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Ahn Hyo-seop / The Present Company

Actor Ahn Hyo-seop is making waves in the global entertainment market with nothing but his voice.

Netflix’s animated musical K-pop Demon Hunters, in which Ahn stars as the lead voice actor, has been named one of Variety’s “Oscars 2025: Animated Features to Watch.” The magazine praised the film as “a musical journey that celebrates cultural pride through the aesthetics of animation and the spirit of K-pop,” noting that the film transcends genre boundaries.

The film, directed by the creators of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, follows the double life of K-pop girl group members who moonlight as demon slayers. Since its release, K-pop Demon Hunters has entered Netflix’s global Top 10 in over 90 countries, topping the charts in more than 40 of them. With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 97%, it has garnered both critical acclaim and massive public appeal.

The soundtrack has also seen remarkable success. The film’s OST reached No. 3 on the Billboard album chart, and the featured track “Your Idol” hit No. 1 on Spotify’s U.S. Daily Top Songs, showcasing the powerful synergy between animation and K-pop.

Ahn voices the character Jin-woo, a reaper who also happens to be a K-pop idol. Far beyond simple voice dubbing, Ahn breathes life into the emotional arc and layered personality of Jin-woo, earning praise for “carrying the film with his voice alone.” His cover video of the theme song “Free” surpassed 10 million views on YouTube within a day, reflecting the fervor of his global fanbase.

U.S. entertainment outlet Collider hailed his performance, saying, “He perfectly captures the intellect and charisma of Jin-woo,” while international online communities like Reddit praised his “emotionally transcendent voice acting” and “storytelling that reaches the heart of the narrative.” Some critics have called his role “a symbolic act of cultural identity on the global stage.”

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A representative from Ahn’s agency described the project as “a cultural turning point beyond box office success,” saying, “Ahn has proven that a Korean actor can connect with the world through voice alone.” Among fans, the character Jin-woo has already become more than an animated persona—he’s emerging as a cultural icon for the K-pop fandom.

Ahn Hyo-seop will next appear in the live-action film Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, set to premiere on July 23.