In 2025, Netflix’s animation ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ (KDH) sparked a global sensation upon its release. Within less than three months, it surpassed 300 million cumulative views, becoming the most-watched film in Netflix history. The original soundtrack ‘Golden,’ sung by the protagonist Huntrix, reached No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100—a first for an animation OST. The show’s popularity also drove the National Museum of Korea’s annual visitors past 6.5 million, the highest since its opening in 1945. U.S. magazine TIME named ‘KDH’ the ‘Innovative Work of the Year,’ featuring Huntrix members on its cover.
Choreographer Ha Sung-jin gained international attention for his Taekwondo-inspired ‘Soda Pop’ routine. Ha created 90% of the choreography for Lion Boys’ hit ‘Soda Pop’ and contributed to other tracks like ‘How It’s Done’ and ‘Your Idol.’ As a member of the Taekwondo performance team K-Tigers, Ha has showcased dynamic Taekwondo moves at major events like the 2025 G20 Johannesburg Summit and the APEC Summit in Gyeongju. His choreography seamlessly incorporates Taekwondo techniques such as face and body blocks.
During the production of ‘KDH,’ Ha developed 12 choreography drafts in just three months, collaborating closely with director Maggie Kang and the production team. He focused on blending Taekwondo movements naturally into the dance without making them appear strictly martial. For ‘Your Idol,’ he expressed the themes of ‘grim reaper’ and ‘soul’ through subtle gestures and body angles. Ha’s routines are praised for being both accessible and innovative, appealing to idols and the general public alike.
At the 2025 Seoul Hunters Festival, hundreds of local and international fans competed in dance contests featuring ‘KDH’ OSTs and choreography, highlighting the elevated status of choreographers. Ha Sung-jin is pioneering a new genre by fusing Taekwondo and dance, contributing to the global expansion of K-content. However, issues like choreography copyright remain unresolved, underscoring the need for better protection of creators’ rights. The future holds promise for Taekwondo-based dance to become a recognized global performance language.
This article illustrates how K-content has evolved from a cultural export to a global standard. Ha Sung-jin’s Taekwondo-based choreography bridges tradition and modernity, East and West, setting new trends in global pop culture. Strengthening copyright protection for choreographers could further fuel the creative and sustainable growth of the K-content industry.