KPOP DEMON HUNTERS songwriter faces scrutiny for alleged use of ChatGPT (UPDATED)

Update, September 18, 2025:

In a new report from the Represent Asian Project, the outlet clarified that, in the context of the original Korean article, Vince had made a broader statement: “I sometimes use ChatGPT to get some inspiration while producing K-Pop.” The remark was part of a larger discussion about how AI is already being used within the K-Pop industry.

Meanwhile, the KPop Demon Hunters Discord server addressed the circulating rumors directly. A statement posted there read: “Recent posts on social media claim that ‘Soda Pop,’ a track from the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack, was written or produced with AI tools such as ChatGPT. This is false. The rumor began with incorrect English reporting and mistranslations of Korean news, and was amplified by a misleading tweet. No AI tools were used for composing, lyric writing, or production at any stage.”

As of now, Netflix, Sony, and the film’s creative team have not issued any official comments on the controversy.

The bubbly, addicting hit “Soda Pop,” which had KPop Demon Hunters fans grooving, has recently been marred by controversy due to allegations of AI involvement in its creation.

Sherwin Wu, Head of Engineering at OpenAI, posted on X (formerly Twitter) on September 11 to celebrate the opening of OpenAI’s Korean subsidiary. In the post, he mentioned that Vince, one of the credited songwriters for “Soda Pop,” had allegedly used ChatGPT during the songwriting process, saying it “apparently gave him ideas to make it sound ‘more bubbly.'” The post has since been deleted as of September 15.

In an earlier Korea JoongAng Daily interview, Vince discussed how “Soda Pop” began as a guitar demo he had written seven years ago. Only the demo’s chords made it into the intro of the final track, with Vince and his co-writers making numerous adjustments to achieve a “brighter” and “bubblier” sound in line with Sony’s feedback. The outlet also reported that Vince expanded on these comments, allegedly describing “Soda Pop” as “an example of how AI was used in K-Pop production.” Vince is also credited on the track “Your Idol.”

It remains unclear how, or to what extent, Vince may have used ChatGPT in the creative process—whether for inspiration, lyrics, or production ideas. Still, the possibility has sparked backlash among fans, many of whom expressed disappointment at the thought of AI being used at all. Some also worry that this could fuel unfounded claims made by critics who have previously accused the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack of being “AI-generated.”

As of this article’s publication, Vince has not made any further public statements regarding the comments attributed to him.

The use of AI in music production is not new—particularly in the K-Pop industry—though it continues to spark divided opinions among artists and fans. Regardless of the accuracy of the recent reports, it would be unfair to dismiss the contributions of the many songwriters, producers, and performers who brought “Soda Pop,” “Your Idol,” and the rest of the soundtrack to life. The success of KPop Demon Hunters reflects the years of dedication, talent, and cultural pride of its creative team and remains a milestone in spotlighting Asian excellence.

Source: Bluesky, Korea JoongAng Daily, Instagram