The director of The King of Kings shared his thoughts on the global success of K-content.
On the afternoon of the 2nd, a press screening and conference for the film The King of Kings (directed by Jang Seong-ho) took place at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Yongsan District, Seoul. Director Jang Seong-ho attended the conference and engaged in discussions.
The King of Kings is an animated film depicting a journey into the greatest story of 2000 years ago, inspired by the unpublished manuscript 'The Life of Our Lord' that the renowned British author Charles Dickens wrote for his children, well-known for works like 'Oliver Twist' and 'A Christmas Carol'.
In particular, The King of Kings, which first premiered in North America in April, surpassed $60.3 million in cumulative revenue, setting new records as the highest-grossing Korean film and the second highest-grossing Asian film. Additionally, it achieved a Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 98% and a CinemaScore of A+, demonstrating overwhelming support.
Director Jang Seong-ho, in relation to the global popularity of 'K-Pop Demon Hunters', recently made by Sony, asked how K-animation should target the global market following the Korean-made The King of Kings. He remarked, "The King of Kings was initially targeted at the North American market, so I never considered Korean elements. At that time, I didn't think K-content would become such a global heritage."
He stated, "Looking back, Hollywood is now making works using Korean themes. While I was recording The King of Kings, I traveled around the world. I had to go where the actors were to record, and I went back and forth between LA, New York, and London. Each time, I felt the reactions of local staff gradually changing. At least they would say a word or two in Korean and are obviously fans of BTS and directors Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook. I didn't know much about what director Hong Sang-soo had been working on recently, but I was even asked, 'Have you seen director Hong's latest movie?'"
He continued, "In the past, when I mentioned being from Korea, people didn't know it well. Questions were limited. But now, I felt treated as a peer in creating the same content. There's no longer a reason to feel culturally inferior. Our generation may have had that underlying feeling, but the current generation does not. That's the reality."
He added, "Just as Hollywood made 'Mulan' based on Chinese themes and 'Coco' based on Latin American themes, it seems like we too are in an era where we can take on and create mainstream works based on Korean themes without hesitation. It's important that they can be enjoyed universally by everyone worldwide, and K-content has proven itself. Korean dramas and films are already gaining global popularity. We're in a time where self-censorship has diminished, so it seems like you should create opportunities to freely express your talents without fear."
Meanwhile, The King of Kings will be released domestically on the 16th.
[Photo] Distation
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