Lee Byung Hun is making waves with his role in Netflix‘s K-Pop Demon Hunters.
He voices Gwima, the ancient demon king. Even with limited screen time, his deep voice steals the show and ramps up the suspense.
Gwima is an ambitious villain, absorbing human souls to gain power and rule the world. He manipulates Jinu, voiced by Ahn Hyo Seop, a member of Saja Boys.
“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 to Dispatch
Lee is the only cast member handling both English and Korean voiceovers. He explained:
“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 added it was challenging:
“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.”
The standout moment? Lee 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 emphasized Gwima’s duality:
“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 launched globally and hit No. 1 in 22 countries, including the U.S. and U.K., just a day after its release.
Lee reacted to the success:
“It’s surprising to see a Korean-themed story and concept receive so much love worldwide.”
For Lee, the project hits close to home:
“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 praised Lee’s dedication, calling it one of her most exciting experiences:
“He asked so many thoughtful questions from the beginning and completely embraced the concept we envisioned.”
K-Pop Demon Hunters blends action and musical genres, following K-pop girl group members who secretly fight demons offstage.
Lee Byung Hun is also reprising his role in Squid Game. Season 3 has already broken records, racking up 60.1 million views in just three days.
Watch the trailer here:
For more insights, check out this Twitter thread:
Just watched K-Pop Demon Hunters and Lee Byung Hun’s voice acting is iconic! 🔥
His character Gwima is a complex villain! 😱 #KPopDemonHunters— K-Pop Fan (@kpopfan) October 10, 2023
