‘The humor expressed by Derpy is our strength,' says President Lee on ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’

President Lee Jae-myung (third from right) speaks with Maggie Kang (third from left), director of “K-Pop Demon Hunters,” and others during a TV show recording at the Arirang TV studios in Seoul on August 20. / Courtesy of the presidential office

President Lee Jae-myung appeared on a television program on August 20 alongside the director of Netflix’s animated film “K-Pop Demon Hunters,” saying, “The humor expressed by the tiger ‘Derpy’ represents our strength,” and adding, “The government will play a role in building strong roots for the cultural industry.”

President Lee joined a special program titled “K-Pop: The Next Chapter,” aired that afternoon on Arirang TV. Also featured were Maggie Kang, director of “K-Pop Demon Hunters,” K-pop girl band TWICE members Jihyo and Jeongyeon who took part in the film’s original soundtrack, producer R.Tee, and music critic Kim Young-dae.

Wearing a white T-shirt under a sky-blue jacket, President Lee responded to the host’s question about the film’s abbreviation: “Of course I know. Isn’t it called ‘Kedeheon (KDH)’?”

He chose the tiger character “Derpy” as the most memorable part of the film. “Korean culture is often described as humorous,” Lee said. “Transforming the tiger, the scariest creature, into something lovable and adorable shows the strength we have.” Referring to the light-stick protests that continued after former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s martial law declaration on December 3 last year, he said, “Korean culture can easily subdue even a harsh political scene with light sticks.” He added, “While the world is struggling with political turmoil and conflict, Korea overcomes it beautifully. K-democracy is, in a way, a comprehensive art form.”

Lee went on: “From the government’s perspective, we need to take a long-term view in fostering the cultural industry. That means making large-scale investments and providing support in the cultural sphere so that more people can take on challenges, learn, and discover their own talents and potential.”

Pointing to real-world challenges such as a shortage of performance venues and infrastructure, the president presented plans to foster the cultural industry. “If pure arts and culture do not serve as the foundation, the cultural industry will be a house built on sand,” he said, pledging support for the fine arts as well.

※This article was translated by an AI tool and edited by a professional translator.