K-animation’s absence: why Korea hasn’t produced its own ‘Zootopia 2’ or ‘KPop Demon Hunters’
Global interest in Korean culture — from K-pop and K-food to K-beauty — is hotter than ever. Yet animation remains a lagging sector. Even as well-made animated works gain attention both at home and abroad, the fact that Korea still lacks a globally recognized animated character beyond Pororo underscores a sobering reality. This year’s No. 1 film at the Korean box office was the Japanese animated movie “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle,” which overtook the Korean live-action hit “Zombie Daughter.” Other Japanese animated titles such as “Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc” and “Jujutsu Kaisen” also enjoyed major success. The momentum has continued with animation. Disney’s “Zootopia 2” surpassed 4 million moviegoers just 13 days after its release and has dominated the box office without serious competition. Industry observers say the trend is likely to continue through the year-end peak season. Animation’s strength is also evident on streaming platforms. Netflix’s animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” recorded the highest cumulative viewership of any
