Actor Ahn Hyo Seop is solidifying his global influence by consecutively appearing on major U.S. television programs.
Ahn Hyo Seop appeared on NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Jan. 12 local time, and on the morning of the 13th he appeared consecutively on NBC's flagship morning show, the Today Show, meeting viewers across North America.
This move takes on greater significance as it coincides with the explosive global success of the Netflix animated film KPop Demon Hunters, in which Ahn Hyo Seop participated as the voice of Jinu.
In particular, the Today Show, on which Ahn Hyo Seop appears, is NBC's flagship morning news and lifestyle program that has been broadcast since 1952, and is one of the most influential morning shows in the United States, covering news, culture, entertainment and lifestyle. The fact that Ahn Hyo Seop has entered this stage, which is visited only by top political and business figures and the highest-profile Hollywood stars, symbolically shows that he has now moved from Asia to the center of the North American mainstream market.
This enthusiasm peaked at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards held on the 11th (local time). KPop Demon Hunters, in which Ahn Hyo Seop starred, won two awards, best motion picture – animated and best original song, "Golden," receiving recognition for both artistic quality and popularity.
Director Maggie K. Lee, in her acceptance speech, said, "I am grateful to everyone who believed that a film deeply rooted in Korean culture could resonate with global audiences," and proved that Korea's culture and sensibility are now communicating as a language at the center of the world.
Children in character costumes are filling U.S. theaters, sing-along screenings are being held across the country, and famous celebrities and sports stars are sharing the film's choreography and music as challenges, as KPop Demon Hunters spreads as a social phenomenon.
Through this project, Ahn Hyo Seop took on the new challenges of his first English dubbing performance and his first leading character in a Hollywood animation, successfully portraying the core character Jinu of a global mega-hit IP and proving himself an actor who resonates in the global content market.
Ahn Hyo Seop, who has been making a breathless global run since the start of 2026, began by attending Samsung's The First Look at CES in Las Vegas on the 4th, then attended the Golden Disc Awards in Taipei, and went on to promotions including the Jimmy Fallon show and the Today Show in New York, solidifying his position as a global icon.
Now that KPop Demon Hunters stands at the center of two Golden Globe wins, Ahn Hyo Seop is making a definite leap from being described as "an actor representing Korea" to an actor who moves with global IPs that attract worldwide attention, raising expectations for his future actions.
Meanwhile, Ahn Hyo Seop is preparing for the release of his next work, SBS's Sold Out Again Today.
[Photo] The Present Company
[OSEN]