K-Pop Expands Beyond Music into Animation, Sports, and Beauty—Capturing Even Hollywood’s Attention

K-Pop is expanding its reach beyond the music genre into various industries such as animation, sports, and beauty, thereby strengthening its global cultural influence. Netflix’s animated series “KPop Demon Hunters” features K-Pop stars Rumi, Mira, and Joy as secret heroes who hunt evil spirits behind the scenes. Director Maggie Kang explained her intent to create a work that showcases Korean culture and mythology, and the production team visited Korea in person to experience hanoks, Korean cuisine, and street scenes, incorporating these elements into the series. In particular, the girl group TWICE contributed to the original soundtrack, enhancing its quality. K-Pop’s influence is also evident in the sports world. UFC fighter Lee Chang-ho chose aespa’s new song “Supernova” as his entrance music after winning the Road to UFC Season 2 lightweight tournament. He stated that he wanted to promote K-Pop on a global stage and selected the song because of its excellent and energetic vibe, adding that listening to it while training gave him a sense of comfort. The industry is also actively entering the beauty and fashion sectors. The American online eyewear retailer Zenni Optical launched an eyewear collection inspired by K-Pop. Reflecting the aesthetic sensibilities of K-Pop stars such as BTS’s sleek sophistication and BLACKPINK’s edgy charm, this collection features trendy and avant-garde designs available at affordable prices ranging from $17 to $35. Hollywood actors also show a notable interest in K-Pop. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman from the film “Deadpool & Wolverine” appeared on SBS’s “Inkigayo” to introduce the top contenders, demonstrating their enthusiasm for K-Pop. Reynolds mentioned that he enjoys listening to K-Pop regularly, while Jackman expressed his love for K-Pop and said he listens to upbeat dance music while walking. In this way, K-Pop has evolved from a simple music genre into a global cultural phenomenon, continuously expanding its influence through collaborations across diverse industries.