Ahn Hyo Seop is getting major love from global fans—this time, not for his looks or drama roles, but for his voice.
The actor stars in Netflix’s hit animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters, and his performance is creating serious buzz. In fact, U.S. film outlet Variety picked the movie as a strong contender for the Best Animated Feature category at the 2025 Oscars.
Variety praised the film as a “dynamic and color-filled musical journey,” blending stunning animation with K-pop culture. The outlet added that it’s “a joyful celebration of girlhood and cultural pride” and deserves attention on Hollywood’s biggest stage.
The movie tells the story of a K-pop girl group that secretly fights demons when they’re off stage. It’s an action-packed musical adventure co-directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, and produced by Sony Pictures Animation—the same studio behind Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Since its release, K-Pop Demon Hunters has been dominating. It broke into Netflix’s TOP10 in over 90 countries and hit #1 in more than 40. With a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s been praised as “a challenge to traditional animation” and “a cultural turning point.”
The film’s music success is just as impressive. The OST album reached #3 on the U.S. Billboard Albums Chart, and the track “Your Idol” hit #1 on Spotify’s U.S. Daily Top Songs chart—proving that K-pop and animation are a powerful match.
Ahn Hyo Seop voices Jin Woo, the charismatic leader of the boy group Saja Boys and a reaper idol with a secret mission. Critics have praised his performance, saying he “delivered the character’s story and emotions using only his voice.”
The theme song “FREE,” sung by Ahn himself, went viral—reaching over 10 million views on YouTube just one day after its release. With emotional vocals, animation visuals, and the K-pop vibe, the song was described as “proof that a single voice can move the world.”
International media are also noticing. U.S. site Collider said, “Ahn Hyo Seop perfectly portrayed the intelligent and charismatic grim reaper Jin Woo.” On platforms like Reddit, fans shared that his voice acting “brought the character to life” and was “a meaningful turning point in his career and a powerful way to share Korean identity.”
The hype isn’t slowing down. The film continues to grow with new music, merchandise, and challenges. Among fans, Ahn Hyo Seop’s character isn’t just an animated role—Jin Woo has become a symbol of K-pop fandom itself.
A rep from The Present Company shared, “This isn’t just a hit—it’s a cultural milestone. Ahn Hyo Seop’s performance shows that Korean identity can move hearts all over the world, using just a voice.”
Another official added, “Jin Woo is a symbolic moment in how far Korean content can go globally. Ahn Hyo Seop showed us a new level of impact.”
Next up, Ahn Hyo Seop is set to return to the big screen with Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, hitting theaters on July 23. With his voice already reaching hearts worldwide, fans are excited to see what he’ll do next.
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