Lee Byung Hun showcased his unrivaled presence in the Netflix animated film 'K-Pop Demon Hunters,' injecting intense suspense into the story with just his voice.
In the film, Lee voices the character “Gwima,” the king of ancient demons. Despite his brief screen time, he left a powerful impression with his deep and solemn voice that added weight to the narrative.
Gwima is an ambitious villain who absorbs human souls to grow stronger and seeks to rule the world. He manipulates the inner world of Jinu (voiced by Ahn Hyo Seop), a member of the boy group Saja Boys.
Speaking to Dispatch, Lee Byung Hun shared how he got involved in the project. He explained, “While I was in the U.S., I had a meeting with Sony Pictures. I found the concept fascinating from the early planning stages.”
Lee Byung Hun is the only cast member who performed both the English and Korean voiceovers. He revealed, “Initially, I was only slated to do the English dubbing, but I later ended up doing the voice acting for the Korean version as well.”
He also opened up about the challenges of voice acting in English. He explained, “It required an understanding of emotions, nuances, and cultural differences. While the Korean dubbing was done in a day, the English version needed to be split across three sessions to refine it properly.”
When asked about the most memorable scene, Lee Byung Hun mentioned, “The part where Gwima awkwardly tries to sing along with Jinu’s song stuck with me. I put a lot of thought into how to deliver the right tone.”
He added, “Gwima is set up as a terrifying, charismatic king of darkness, but there’s a clumsy, almost endearing aspect to him. I really liked that part.”
'K-Pop Demon Hunters' became a global hit immediately after its release. Lee Byung Hun said, “It’s surprising to see a Korean-themed story and concept receive so much love worldwide.”
The film holds personal significance for him as well. He shared, “I realized people are far more interested and responsive to K-pop than I imagined. As someone who participated in the project, it was both rewarding and uplifting.”
Director Maggie Kang expressed her honor at working with Lee Byung Hun, calling it “one of the most exciting and pivotal experiences during the making of the film.” She praised his passion for acting and said, “He asked so many thoughtful questions from the beginning and completely embraced the concept we envisioned.”
'K-Pop Demon Hunters' is an animated film blending action and musical genres. It tells the story of globally famous K-pop girl group members who secretly lead double lives as demon hunters offstage.
The film captivated audiences worldwide. Just one day after its Netflix release, it ranked No. 1 in 22 countries, including the U.S., U.K., and Australia. It has held the No. 1 spot globally in the film category for 12 consecutive days.
Meanwhile, Lee Byung Hun also reprised his role as the Front Man in 'Squid Game,' with season 3 setting new Netflix records by racking up 60.1 million views in just three days.
SEE ALSO: Lee Byung Hun voices the main villain in Netflix animated film 'K-Pop Demon Hunters'
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