The Host was cited as an inspiration for KPop Demon Hunters' blend of genres and moods.
Co-directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans pointed to Bong Joon Ho's 2006 monster film The Host as a reference for combining contrasting tones. KPop Demon Hunters similarly moves between comedy, action, fantasy, romance, musical performance, and emotional drama. The shifts are intentional: the film wants its supernatural battles and pop-star storyline to coexist rather than remain in separate genres.
This answer is sometimes confused with other Korean films associated with Bong Joon Ho, especially Parasite or Okja. Those films are relevant to Bong's career, but The Host is the specific title identified in the film's creative background as an example of genre and mood blending.
The influence does not mean KPop Demon Hunters is an adaptation of The Host. The animated film has its own story, characters, mythology, and musical structure. Instead, The Host served as a tonal model for balancing humor, danger, spectacle, and heart within one narrative.