10/04/2026

LYFE FRIDAY | APR 10, 2026

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Keeping it confidential, ‘no spoilers at all’

o KPopDemonHunters co-directorskeepcards closetoheart

Mentioning cultural influence he has received from his Korean wife, which he described as “eye-opening”, Appelhans said the lead character Rumi “embodies” the pride, strength and sense of unity of the Korean people. “I think Rumi’s story is about somebody who has to suffer a lot, and through coming through that, it makes them really strong. My understanding and experience of Korean culture and Korean people is that they’ve been through a lot, and there’s a pride and a strength, a sense of unity forged through history. I was glad that Rumi’s story embodies something of that,” the American filmmaker said. Early last month, Netflix confirmed it is producing a sequel to the film, which became the streaming giant’s most-watched movie of all time. “I feel immense pride as a Korean filmmaker that the audience wants more from this Korean story and our Korean characters. There’s so much more to this world we have built, and I’m excited to show you. This is only the beginning,” Kang said in a statement at that time. the

who is visiting the country for the first time since the Netflix film’s release last June, said the guiding principle behind the sequel remains unchanged from the first, reported Bernama-Yonhap. “Part of what inspires us working on the sequel is we want to do things that we did the first time, not in the sense of repeating but in the sense of surprising. “Doing things that are unexpected, that are breaking rules, that are pushing the boundaries,” he said. He emphasised authenticity will remain at the film’s core. “Authenticity is the freedom of the soul to salt the movie on every level, from the girls’ characters to the music to the mythology.” On the question of scale, he said it is the team’s “duty to make the biggest, most spectacular movie” possible within their financial means, a budget reportedly larger than the first film’s given its breakout success. But he stressed, “At the end of the day, it still goes back to the story – the story and the soul of the story. And you have to find that.”

M AGGIE

Kang,

co-director

of

the

Oscar-winning KPop Demon Hunters , said the

mega-hit animated film’s sequel will be bigger in scale with plenty in store for fans, Yonhap News Agency reported. “I would like to keep it confidential, no spoilers at all,” she said at a press conference in Seoul last Wednesday, which was held to mark the film’s two Oscar wins last month. The sensational hit claimed victory in the Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song categories with Golden from its original soundtrack at the 98th Academy Awards. “We have a big idea, but I don’t know the details yet,” she added, declining to elaborate further. Co-director Chris Appelhans, Kangmin participated in Free Falling’ s overall production. It includes three new tracks, starting with the intro track Intro: Small, Fragile and Still Here . It has a soft, lo-fi sound and candid lyrics co-written by Kangmin and Dongheon, the leader of VeriVery, that capture the complicated emotions of a boy’s desire to shine and be loved. Dongheon also contributed to the track’s composition. “Our youngest member Kangmin worked very hard on this album to convey his own music and story, so please give it a lot of love and support!” said Dongheon. Free Falling is the title track of the album, and it is a contemporary R&B-pop track, in which Kangmin also participated in the writing of its lyrics. The song depicts a couple in a turbulent relationship, oscillating between love and pain in an ongoing cycle of pushing and pulling. The music video for Free Falling builds tension through shifts in point of view, using a series of scenes that leave a lingering feeling rather than precisely explaining their meaning, naturally immersing viewers and allowing them to follow the flow of emotions. The single album closes out with In the Mirror , a mid-tempo pop track that compares the need to ignore and push back one’s own thoughts and feelings, but also realising it is time to face oneself in the mirror and take a step towards acceptance. Kangmin uses this track to confess his inner conflict through its words and his vocals, as he navigates between wanting to stay as he is and the discomfort of embracing himself.

Kang says the big idea is there, but she does not know the details yet. – REUTERSPIC Free falling into first solo KANGMIN of VeriVery has released his first solo single album Free Falling , which is about his present self as he moves forward, navigating the ambiguities of the in-between time of boyhood and adulthood.

participation brought about new questions and feelings, and Free Falling acts as a journal of that time. Through this album, Kangmin has chosen to candidly record his imperfect self as he explores his feelings of excitement and uneasiness about this new journey, rather than trying to present a perfect or confident self-image. “I filled this album with stories that I wanted to share honestly with you all, so I hope you could think of who Kangmin is while listening to this album,” said the artiste.

This marks his solo debut, and he is the first member of VeriVery to do so. Free Falling refers to the act and literal imagery of the phrase, being unable to fully orient oneself mid-air, trying to find a place to step – or hold onto, while still plummeting forward. After appearing on Mnet’s hit survival programme Boys II Planet , his

Kangmin has chosen to candidly record his imperfect self as he explores his feelings of excitement and uneasiness about this new journey.

Kangmin is the youngest member of VeriVery.