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US burger roaster relies on Korean concept pop. This time the anime series “KPop Demon Hunters” is supposed to make the cash registers ring – and the Mexi Burger campaign “Los Wochos” was nothing against it.
This time, McDonald’s is revamping its menu with pop culture. The theme is K-Pop and it will start at the end of March in the USA, the home country. The fast food giant is once again making use of the global triumph of Korean conceptual music, which is no longer just in the music charts or on streaming platforms.
Together with Netflix, the meatball roasters are bringing a new menu selection to restaurants – inspired by the animated hit “KPop Demon Hunters”, which recently even won two Oscars.
Huntr/X versus Saja Boys: fictitious rivalry as a marketing concept
The campaign focuses on the fictional rivalry between the girl group Huntr/X and the Saja Boys – a demon boy band. McDonald’s is turning its US stores into a kind of fan arena where everything revolves around these two groups.
The focus is on menus created for marketing purposes: The “Huntr/X Meal” combines classics such as Chicken McNuggets with so-called “Ramyeon McShaker Fries” – a fusion dish with a Korean twist. According to the PR description, the fries are infused with a seasoning blend of soy, garlic, sesame and spices, inspired by Korean noodle snacks. There are also flashy sauces, such as the sweet and spicy “Hunter Sauce” or the purple “Demon Sauce”.
The counterpart is the Saja Boys breakfast menu with a “Sausage McMuffin” with egg and special “Spicy Saja Sauce”, accompanied by hash browns and a glass of soda.
Trading cards, McFlurry and the Battle for the Fans
A highlight for fans are the trading cards that come with every menu. They show artwork from the two comic groups and contain QR codes that can be used to unlock additional content – including a “Battle for the Fans” in which it is revealed whether the girls or the boys ultimately win the upper hand.
The development department also achieved top performance when it came to dessert: The “Derpy McFlurry”, named after a character from the film, combines vanilla ice cream with fruity berry marbles and a wildberry sauce – visually and tastefully fully in the style of the anime.
From BTS to Kaulitz: McDonald’s and the pop collaborations
As early as 2021, McDonald’s initiated a cooperation with the successful Korean band BTS. At that time, the “BTS menu” was brought to the grill kitchen, consisting of nine Chicken McNuggets, maxi fries, a large soft drink and two specially developed sauces – Sweet Chili and Cajun. The recipes were based heavily on models from South Korea and were also available in Europe.
Internationally, food editions with Travis Scott (2020) and Mariah Carey (2021) caused a sensation – with cleverly put together menus or special promotions, including free offers at Christmas time. So far, the local promotion department has remained silent as to whether the new K-pop plate will also come to Germany.
The principle of “feeding with pop celebrities” has also proven successful between Flensburg and Garmisch: in 2024, Bill and Tom Kaulitz launched specially curated McPlant menus. A special collaboration with Scooter followed in 2025 under the motto “I like it loud” – baller techno mix including a wow extra: a set of earplugs.
