Interview: Jessica Yoon
SARAH STEINBACHER: Your upcoming deluxe junior novelization, KPOP DEMON HUNTERS (available 3/31/26), retells the story of Netflix’s most watched film of all time. How did you approach adapting such a beloved screenplay into a children’s chapter book?
JESSICA YOON: I’m still pinching myself that I get to be a small part of the Kpop Demon Hunters zeitgeist! I wrote with the mandate that the novelization be true to the film, so I watched the movie several more times than I already had, pausing throughout to make sure I was capturing the energy, humor, and emotions accurately. I was fortunate to have access to the screenplay also, which made pulling out dialogue much easier.
I am a pantser, so I don’t typically outline novels, but in this case, I did lay out which scenes would go in which chapters. I only had ten days to write the book, so dividing the chapters up from the start made writing feel more manageable. I hope fans enjoy the book and feel that I did the film justice!
SARAH STEINBACHER: Who is your favorite character from KPOP DEMON HUNTERS and why?
JESSICA YOON: Ooh, this is a hard one! Rumi is the character I identify with most (holds the world on her shoulders and seeks unachievable perfection–whoops!). But I think at the end of the day, I can’t deny my love for Derpy Tiger. He looks intimidating but is just so endearing. I’d fix any toppled flower pot for Derpy!
SARAH STEINBACHER: If you were to join HUNTR/X, what would your character be like?
JESSICA YOON: My character would be a vocalist who wields a dangpa (trident-like spear). She would enjoy helping Zoey with songwriting!
SARAH STEINBACHER: You also wrote two nonfiction KPop books, MY LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK ABOUT KPOP (available 5/5/26) and BLACKPINK: A LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK BIOGRAPHY. What’s your favorite KPop singer/band?
JESSICA YOON: K-pop is so near and dear to my heart, having been a fan since the 1990s, ha! My original favorite K-pop group was a boy band called H.O.T. My current favorites are BLACKPINK and BTS, but I will always have a soft spot for BIGBANG!
SARAH STEINBACHER: Kirkus called your upcoming picture book, THE LEGEND OF BAN-DAL (available 5/5/26), “a magnificently resonant modern myth” that “spotlights Korean customs while celebrating great courage—to stupendous effect.” How did writing this mythical story differ from your other picture book writing?
JESSICA YOON: Writing this book was so much fun! It’s my first folktale, so it has a different vibe than my other books. The voice came pretty naturally, having read many Korean folktales with my mom as a child. I set out to create an origin story about how the Asian black bear got its characteristic moon-shaped patch but as I wrote, additional characters revealed themselves, which was a fun surprise.
This book ended up being a bit longer and more action-packed than my typical manuscripts, so I focused a lot on pacing and word economy. It’s been so gratifying to see that early readers are enjoying it! I give a ton of credit to Seo Kim; her art really brought the story to another level.
SARAH STEINBACHER: THE LEGEND OF BAN-DAL touches on the environmental harm caused by greed and overfishing. Why are such themes especially important for today’s children?
JESSICA YOON: Ah, folktales are always about something more than what’s on the surface, aren’t they? This one ended up being about the perils of late-stage capitalism (lol). I think it’s important for kids to understand the impact humans have on the natural world and see that they can make a difference. Sadly, it’s something that many adults need to be reminded of as well.
SARAH STEINBACHER: Your recent picture book, JEONG IS JEONG, depicts collectivism and community care. Kirkus said, “in this empathetic work, small acts of kindness crystallize into a rich understanding of Korean culture.” How has jeong impacted your life?
JESSICA YOON: It’s funny—before researching for this book, I hadn’t heard of the word jeong. However, when I read about it, I recognized the spirit of jeong immediately. It is something my parents instilled in me growing up and remains one of my core values—the idea that we are all connected and that our bonds grow deeper as we love and care for one another.
SARAH STEINBACHER: Publishers Weekly called JEONG IS JEONG a “lovingly intergenerational…tale translating a warm concept beyond borders.” Booklist said, “this warm exploration of family and community connections will feel extra familiar to multilingual readers while also speaking to the power of bonds we all share.” How did you translate the Korean concept of jeong into a universal theme and what do you hope children take away from this story?
JESSICA YOON: I think jeong is something we can all understand, whether we have Korean roots or not. Throughout the book, I tried to give examples of jeong that were very kid-friendly and easy to understand. My hope is that young readers will be able to identify the jeong in their lives and find ways to share it with others.
SARAH STEINBACHER: You’ve shared that you first got into writing because you didn’t see much Korean American representation in your child’s books. How have you seen the kidlit industry change since you first started writing? What would you like to see change in the future?
JESSICA YOON: I’ve definitely seen an uptick in diverse children’s books since I first began writing in 2021. While that is encouraging, I still think there is a long way to go. For example, I don’t think BIPOC creators should be limited to just writing cultural books. I also really hope that books by BIPOC and other marginalized creators aren’t seen as a trend. As much as I love K-pop, those aren’t the only kinds of books I’d like to publish. Ultimately, I hope that publishers realize that diverse books are necessary and, frankly, good for business.
SARAH STEINBACHER: What’s the best writing advice you ever received?
JESSICA YOON: Find your community! Though writing is a solitary act, my author friends are a huge part of my writing journey. Whether we are critiquing each other’s work, nerding out about craft, celebrating our wins, or venting about publishing, knowing that I have my writing community makes the ride that much sweeter.
SARAH STEINBACHER: Do you have any other projects you’d like to share?
JESSICA YOON: I have a number of projects that will be announced soon. My Instagram and newsletter are the best way to keep up with my latest book news!
Follow Jessica through her newsletter, website, and Instagram.
*****Order Jessica’s newest book KPOP DEMON HUNTERS here, available 3/31/26.*****
*****Pre-order Jessica’s next picture books THE LEGEND OF BAN-DAL and MY LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK ABOUT K-POP, both available 5/5/26.*****
