Director of 'King of Kings' Talks K-Content's Global Success

'King of Kings' director Jang Seong-ho shared his insights on the international success of Korean content during a press screening and conference held on July 2 at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Seoul.

The animated film 'King of Kings' takes viewers on a journey with renowned British author Charles Dickens and his youngest son, Walter, as they explore one of the greatest stories from 2,000 years ago. The film draws inspiration from Dickens' unpublished manuscript 'The Life of Our Lord,' which he wrote for his children and is well-known for works like 'Oliver Twist' and 'A Christmas Carol.'

Notably, 'King of Kings' achieved remarkable success after its North American release in April, surpassing $60.3 million in cumulative earnings, making it the highest-grossing Korean film of all time and the second highest-grossing Asian film. It also received an impressive 98% on Rotten Tomatoes' audience score and an A+ CinemaScore, reflecting overwhelming support.

When asked about the future direction of K-animation in the global market, especially following the success of Sony's 'K-Pop Demon Hunters,' Jang Seong-ho explained that 'King of Kings' was initially targeted at the North American market without considering Korean themes. He admitted that he did not anticipate K-content becoming such a global phenomenon.

He noted, 'Hollywood is now creating works based on Korean themes. While recording for 'King of Kings,' I traveled around the world, going back and forth between LA, New York, and London. I could feel the changing reactions from local staff. They would at least say a few words in Korean and were often fans of BTS and directors Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook. I even received questions about recent works by director Hong Sang-soo, which shows the changing perception of K-content.'

Jang continued, 'In the past, when I mentioned I was from Korea, people were often unfamiliar with it. Now, I feel treated as a colleague creating similar content. There’s no longer a cultural inferiority complex. While my generation still carries some of that, the younger generation does not. That’s the reality.'

He added, 'Just as Hollywood has produced films like 'Mulan' based on Chinese themes and 'Coco' based on Latin American themes, we too can now challenge ourselves to create mainstream works based on Korean themes without hesitation. K-content has proven to be universally enjoyable, as evidenced by the global popularity of Korean dramas and films. We are in an era where self-censorship has diminished, allowing creators to freely express their talents.'

'King of Kings' is set to be released in South Korea on July 16.