‘KPop Demon Hunters’ directors spark buzz with instant noodles at Oscars
Chris Appelhans / Captured from Maurene Goo's social media
Even on the night of Hollywood’s most prestigious award show, “KPop Demon Hunters” managed to deliver a scene no one expected, as its directors casually snacked on raw instant noodles during the ceremony, sending social media into a frenzy.
Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, co-directors of Netflix’s hit animated film, drew attention after behind-the-scenes photos from the 98th Academy Awards surfaced online. The images were shared on Monday (local time) by Korean American author Maurene Goo, Appelhans’ wife.
The ceremony took place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. An unusual item in Appelhan's hand drew online attention — a packet of instant noodles featuring Mira, a character from “KPop Demon Hunters.”
After returning to his seat following the film’s win for Best Animated Feature, Appelhans opened the ramen packet, crushed the raw noodles, and began eating them with chopsticks — an unexpected “mukbang” moment in the middle of the Oscars.
Kang, seated next to him, was also seen snacking before putting the noodles down to applaud during the ceremony, with the moment briefly captured on the live broadcast.
The photos showing the contrast between the formal setting and the casual snack quickly went viral. Viewers reacted with amusement, posting comments such as, "This isn’t edited?" "I can’t believe they’re eating that there," and "This is hilarious."
Eating crushed, uncooked instant noodles is a popular casual snack in Korea, often associated with school days and convenience store culture — making the moment feel both nostalgic and uniquely Korean.
“KPop Demon Hunters,” a Netflix original released in June last year, took home Oscars for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Golden,” marking a major global milestone for K-pop-inspired storytelling.
As clips and photos continue to circulate, the impromptu snack has become one of the night’s most talked-about moments — proving that even at the Oscars, a touch of everyday Korean culture can steal the spotlight.
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.