Maggie Kang

Maggie Kang

Maggie Kang (born 1981 or 1982), also known by her Korean name Kang Min-ji (강민지), is a South Korean and Canadian storyboard artist, writer, and director. She is best known for creating the story for KPop Demon Hunters (2025), which she co-wrote and directed with Chris Appelhans. The film earned the duo two Annie Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and an Academy Award.

Life and education

Maggie Kang

Kang was born in Seoul, South Korea, and moved to Toronto, Canada, when she was five. Originally moving there for her father's work, the family decided to stay in Canada, where Kang eventually grew up. She studied animation at Sheridan College and in her third year was recruited to DreamWorks Animation.

Career

Maggie Kang

Kang was head of story for The Lego Ninjago Movie (2017), as well as a story artist for animated films such as Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016), Rise of the Guardians (2012) and Puss in Boots (2011). She directed KPop Demon Hunters (2025) with Chris Appelhans. The film is based on an original concept she developed; in March 2026, it was announced that a sequel is planned for release in 2029.

Kang later attributed the demos of Ejae as one of the reasons KPop Demon Hunters was greenlit and cited the group Twice as an inspiration for the fictional K-pop girl group Huntrix in the film. She also said that the group Monsta X was one of the inspirations for the fictional boy band, the Saja Boys, in the film, and stated that Blackpink was another inspiration for Huntrix. Additionally, Kang asserted, as did Appelhans, that the tone and style of The Host was an inspiration for KPop Demon Hunters.

Personal life

Maggie Kang

Kang in 2025

Kang is married to Radford Sechrist, creator of Netflix series Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts. Sechrist gave her the idea for merging Korean mythology and K-pop, which became the film K-Pop Demon Hunters. According to Kang, she and Sechrist thought up the concept for the animation film, which was bought by Sony, and began development, a week after it was pitched over lunch in 2018.

Sechrist and Kang have a daughter, who had a role as a voice actor in KPop Demon Hunters, voicing the younger Rumi. Sechrist designed the Derpy Tiger character in the film, basing it upon minhwa and his cat Yumyan. Sechrist also was said to have designed characters and written "a lot of the scenes" for the film. Before this, in 2020, Sechrist revealed that Kang took him to BTS concerts, and said the K-pop genre was close to his heart.

Accolades

Awards and nominations

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Award</th><th>Category</th><th>Work</th><th>Result</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2025</td><td>Alliance of Women Film Journalists</td><td>Best Animated Feature</td><td>KPop Demon Hunters (with Chris Appelhans)</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Austin Film Critics Association</td><td>The Robert R. "Bobby" McCurdy Memorial Breakthrough Award</td><td>KPop Demon Hunters</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Celebration of Asian Pacific Cinema and Television</td><td>Animation Award</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The Female Lead</td><td>Women of the Year</td><td>Honored</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>IndieWire Honors</td><td>Spark Award</td><td>KPop Demon Hunters (with Chris Appelhans and Ejae)</td><td>Honored</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>KALH Honors</td><td>Pioneer Award</td><td>KPop Demon Hunters</td><td>Honored</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Korean Association of Film Critics Awards</td><td>FIPRESCI Award (Foreign)</td><td>KPop Demon Hunters (with Chris Appelhans)</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Marie Claire Asia Star Awards</td><td>Director of the Year</td><td>KPop Demon Hunters</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>TikTok Awards</td><td>Entertainment of the Year Award</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>World Animation Summit</td><td>Movie of the Year Award</td><td>KPop Demon Hunters (with Chris Appelhans)</td><td>Honored</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2026</td><td>Academy Awards</td><td>Best Animated Feature</td><td>KPop Demon Hunters (with Chris Appelhans and Michelle Wong)</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Annie Awards</td><td>Best Direction – Feature</td><td>KPop Demon Hunters (with Chris Appelhans)</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best Writing – Feature</td><td>KPop Demon Hunters (with Chris Appelhans, Danya Jimenez, Hannah McMechan)</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Astra Film Awards</td><td>Best Animated Feature</td><td>KPop Demon Hunters (with Chris Appelhans and Michelle Wong)</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Indie Critics</td><td>Best Animated Film</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Critics' Choice Movie Awards</td><td>Best Animated Feature</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Departure Honours</td><td>Cultural Innovator Award</td><td>KPop Demon Hunters</td><td>Honored</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Golden Globe Awards</td><td>Best Motion Picture – Animated</td><td>KPop Demon Hunters (with Chris Appelhans and Michelle Wong)</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>International Cinephile Society</td><td>Best Animated Film</td><td>KPop Demon Hunters (with Chris Appelhans)</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Latino Entertainment Journalists Association</td><td>Best Animated Feature</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

State and cultural honors

Country or organization	Award ceremony	Year	Honor	Ref.
South Korea	Korea Content Awards	2025	Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit (4th class)