Maggie Kang to Unpack Global IP’s New Era at Origin Summit

Origin Summit has announced its third wave of programming for its flagship event, which will take place on September 23, 2025 in Seoul during Korea Blockchain Week. Among the newly confirmed speakers is Maggie Kang, the animation director behind Netflix’s record-breaking original film K-POP DEMON HUNTERS. Kang will participate in an exclusive fireside conversation focused on global storytelling, fandom, and the rising influence of culturally driven intellectual property (IP).

Kang is known for her unique approach to storytelling, which blends Korean cultural elements with innovative character development. K-POP DEMON HUNTERS, which Kang wrote, directed, and produced, became a global phenomenon after its release. The film achieved 236 million views in its first nine weeks on Netflix and recorded a $19 million theatrical debut—making it the most-watched animated film on the platform at the time of release. Its soundtrack generated eight Billboard Hot 100 chart entries, including the number one single "Golden," and earned critical acclaim, with a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Kang’s work reflects a departure from traditional portrayals of female heroes, instead creating characters that are relatable, flawed, and humorous, which resonated with a global audience. This approach contributed to the formation of a dedicated and engaged fandom, demonstrating how culturally grounded IP can transcend borders and become a global cultural movement.

The Origin Summit, organized by Story in collaboration with Blockworks and Hankyung Media Group, brings together leaders from AI, blockchain, finance, and IP to explore the infrastructure of the programmable IP economy. SY Lee, co-founder and CEO of Story, emphasized Kang’s alignment with the Summit’s mission to highlight visionary IP with global reach and cultural relevance. He noted that K-POP DEMON HUNTERS exemplifies the kind of participatory and programmable IP future the Summit aims to promote.

Maggie Kang joins a growing list of notable speakers, including Kyoung In Jung (CEO, The Black Label), Arthur Hayes (Founder, Maelstrom), Justin Sun (Founder, TRON; Advisor, HTX), and others from the entertainment, blockchain, and finance sectors. The event is curated for institutional investors, IP holders, AI builders, and cultural leaders and will be held at a venue in Seoul. Attendees must apply via the official website due to limited capacity.

Story, the blockchain platform behind the IP infrastructure, has secured $136 million in funding from investors including a16z, Polychain, and Samsung Ventures. It launched its mainnet in February 2025 and has since positioned itself as a leading infrastructure for tokenized IP. Story’s technology enables creators and developers to turn media, data, and AI-generated content into programmable digital assets with embedded rights, bridging the gap between outdated legal frameworks and the realities of AI-era creation.

The Origin Summit is expected to play a pivotal role in defining the future of the programmable IP economy. By bringing together industry leaders like Maggie Kang, the event aims to explore how AI, crypto, and capital can converge to unlock IP as a valuable and untapped asset class. As K-POP DEMON HUNTERS demonstrates, the potential of culturally driven IP is vast and increasingly influential on a global scale.