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5 months ago
K-Demon Hunters Goes Global — The Surprise Beneficiary? Nongshim
There is a song trending on Spotify right nowThe OST tracks “Your Idol” and “Golden” from K-pop Demon Hunters are gaining serious attention.These songs ranked number 1 and 2 on Spotify’s US Daily Top Songs chartGolden entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 23and the soundtrack album reached number 3 on the Billboard 200With this much buzz around the OST, it is natural for attention to turn to entertainment stocksBut the stock we are highlighting today is not HYBE or YGIt is the unexpected beneficiary—Nongshim HoldingsA global sensation that started with zero expectationsK-pop Demon Hunters, or KDHH, is an original animation produced by Sony Pictures. It follows the story of Huntress, a K-pop girl group trio—Lumi, Mira, and Joy—who moonlight as demon hunters behind the stage.Expectations were low before its release. In fact, close to zero.The premise—a Korean idol group created by a Japanese studio under American financing—reminded many of past Western attempts to mash up East Asian culture, often ending in failure.But once the film was released, the response was overwhelming.· Charming character designs inspired by jakhodo art· Detailed depictions of Korean food culture like ramen, gimbap, and hotteok· An OST that captured the full spirit of K-pop· Small cultural touches, like using tissue paper as a chopstick rest at restaurantsEven the subtlest details, instantly recognizable to Korean viewers, were faithfully portrayed.The result? Global fans praised it as “authentically Korean.”And the numbers followed:· Ranked No. 1 globally in Netflix’s film category during its first week· Hit No. 1 in 41 countries, including the US, Germany, and Thailand· Dance moves from the film’s fictional idol group became real K-pop dance challengesThis led to a second wave of content spreading across platforms.Netflix and Sony were caught off guard by the success and scrambled to produce official merchandiseMeanwhile, a jakhodo-inspired badge from the National Museum of Korea sold out as an unofficial “fan good.”Nongshim Keeps Popping Up in K-Demon HuntersAs you watch the film, certain elements start to stand out.The spicy chips that lead character Joy eats look strikingly similar to Shrimp Crackers.The cup ramen eaten by Huntress members is branded “Dongshim” and features a large red character “Shin,” clearly reminiscent of Shin Ramyun. Even the instructions—“pour hot water and wait three minutes”—match the real product.Ahead of the film’s release, Netflix held a promotional event in New York City, handing out instant ramen to passersby.What makes this even more interesting is that Nongshim had no official PPL or sponsorship deal with K-pop Demon Hunters.The film’s global success has unintentionally delivered Nongshim a wave of free international exposure.K-Content? The Formula That Drives Real-World SalesThere have been past cases where K-content led directly to consumer spending.The 2020 Oscar-winning film Parasite is a prime example of K-content driving global consumption.The appearance of “Chapaguri” in the film caught international audiences by surprise. In the month following the film’s release, Nongshim’s overseas sales of Chapagetti more than doubled year over year, reaching approximately 1.5 million dollars.In March, BLACKPINK’s Jennie mentioned Banana Kick and Shrimp Crackers as her favorite snacks on The Jennifer Hudson Show. Just four days later, Nongshim’s market cap jumped by 260 billion KRW—an example of the “five-second magic” effect in action.This isn’t new. K-content has repeatedly influenced real consumer behavior abroad, translating into tangible gains in both revenue and stock price.K-pop Demon Hunters also features recurring elements that closely resemble Nongshim products, suggesting a similar ripple effect in global consumer markets may follow.Nongshim vs. Nongshim Holdings — Why the Real Play Is the Holding Company(This is Nongshim’s Instagram post from today, the 11th. Could it be hinting at a K-Demon Hunters collaboration?)Then why not just buy Nongshim directly? Why bother with Nongshim Holdings?Here’s why it matters.Recent momentum in the Korean stock market, fueled by this year’s amendment to the Commercial Act and the upcoming expansion of separate dividend taxation, has sparked a revaluation of low-PBR stocks. Holding companies have been leading that move.As the holding company of Nongshim, Nongshim Holdings reflects:· The earnings and brand exposure benefits of Nongshim· A currently low PBR· A relatively high dividend yield· And direct upside from policies aimed at improving holding company structuresThis is not just a case of “moving with the group.”Nongshim Holdings is a rare combination of undervaluation, dividend strength, and structure that aligns perfectly with what today’s market is rewarding most.In ClosingNetflix’s K-pop Demon Hunters delivered an unexpected global hit.Korean food products—especially Nongshim’s ramen and Shrimp Crackers—were naturally embedded in the content, building emotional familiarity and triggering consumer interest among international viewers.From Parasite in 2020, to Squid Game in 2021, and now K-pop Demon Hunters in 2025,K-content driving real-world consumption and stock price momentum is no longer a coincidence—it is a repeatable pattern.If you can’t invest in the content itself, why not ride the consumption trend it creates?Now is the time to take a closer look at Nongshim Holdings, the unexpected beneficiary.[Compliance Note]All posts by Sellsmart are for informational purposes only. Final investment decisions should be made with careful judgment and at the investor’s own risk.The content of this post may be inaccurate, and any profits or losses resulting from trades are solely the responsibility of the investor.Core16 may hold positions in the stocks mentioned in this post and may buy or sell them at any time.
