Netflix’s hit animated film K-pop Demon Hunters has been making waves around the world for its fresh take on Korean culture — but eagle-eyed viewers noticed something big was missing: kimchi.
The film features a delicious lineup of Korean dishes like naengmyeon (cold noodles), seolleongtang (ox bone soup), gimbap, ramyeon, fish cake soup, and hotteok (sweet pancakes). But Korea’s most iconic dish, kimchi, never shows up.
In a recent interview with U.S. political and culture outlet Salon.com, director Maggie Kang revealed this was completely intentional.
“I told the team not to ever put kimchi on the table,” she said. “I banned any mention or appearance of kimchi.”
Why the bold move?
Director Kang explained that showing kimchi felt too much like a cliché. “I wanted to go beyond the obvious and showcase Korean foods that global audiences may not know yet,” she added.
Instead, the film focuses on a variety of comfort foods enjoyed by the K-pop girl group Huntrix — Rumi, Mira, and Joy — who double as secret demon hunters.
The trio is seen fueling up on carbs before performances and missions, offering fans a flavorful look at Korean dishes.
Naengmyeon, in particular, carries deep meaning for both directors. “Naengmyeon is a North Korean dish, and my father is originally from North Korea,” said Kang.
“Chris’s (co-director Chris Appelhans) father-in-law is also from there, so this food is symbolic for both of our families.”
One touching scene shows Rumi feeling discouraged after a vocal slip. Her teammates cheer her up with warm seolleongtang, a classic Korean “healing food.”
“For Korean people, healing food usually means soup or stew,” Kang explained. “We wanted to show that emotional moment through food.”
The animation team also worked hard to make the food look incredibly realistic — from the shine of sesame oil on the gimbap, to chopped green onions on the soup, and even the green melamine bowls found in old-school Korean snack bars.
“A lot of Korean viewers commented on how real and detailed the food looked,” Kang shared. “It was really nice to hear.”
While fans were surprised by the absence of kimchi, many now understand the director’s deeper message — that Korean cuisine is so much more than just one dish.
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