“K-Pop Demon Hunters” Craze Brings Korean Traditional Culture to Life at KCC

The Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines (KCC), launched a series of events themed around the trending movie from July 18 to August 4. Blending Korea’s traditional heritage with K-Pop, the Netflix animated film “K-Pop Demon Hunters” has recently become a worldwide sensation, topping Netflix charts in the Philippines and over 40 countries shortly after its release. In celebration of this cultural phenomenon, visitors were invited to experience a range of hands-on activities that spotlighted Korea’s traditional culture, as depicted in the film. From gat (traditional Korean hats) and hanbok (Korean traditional clothing) try-ons to maedeup (Korean knot) and minhwa (Korean traditional folk painting) workshops, guests were given a taste of the rich cultural heritage that inspired the movie. The event saw an overwhelming response, with around 500 visitors stepping into KCC during the program period.

A highlight of the festivities was the “Show Us What You Gat” event, held on July 18 and 30, where participants had the chance to transform into characters from the movie. Inspired by the film’s bold visuals, capturing memorable photos against the backdrop of KCC’s ongoing exhibition, “The Light of Korea: Jinju Silk Lanterns”, on the 5th floor. To ensure fans beyond Metro Manila could join in, the “Show Us What You Gat” challenge was also held online, extending the celebration to K-pop fans across the country.

Meanwhile, inside KCC’s library, visitors immersed themselves in another cultural craft featured in the movie—Korean traditional knot-making (maedeup). Drawing inspiration from the intricate costumes worn by the film’s heroine group, HUNTR/X, participants followed step-by-step guides to create their personalized knots. These handmade creations were turned into unique bag norigae or charms, giving participants a meaningful keepsake. One guest shared, “It was my first time trying a traditional Korean craft, but by focusing and making it myself the experience felt more special.”

The cultural experience culminated on August 2 with a Minhwa Workshop, where participants painted the film’s beloved characters Sussie and Derpy, learning about their origins from Korea’s traditional tiger and magpie folk paintings known as Jakho-do (Tiger and Magpie painting).

Attendees explored the deeper historical inspirations behind these characters before painting their own versions to take home. One participant remarked, “It was fascinating to learn the historical background of Sussie and Derpy through the movie, and I love that I can now decorate my home with a painting I made myself.”

Through this series of events, KCC successfully bridged modern content with traditional culture, offering visitors a unique space to engage with Korea’s rich heritage while fostering meaningful cultural exchanges with the Filipino community.