Kevin Woo, the voice actor from KPop Demon Hunters, has given IGN an exclusive first look at his upcoming role as a Survivor in Dead by Daylight—a character he'll be voicing, though perhaps not singing for.
Fans of the hit Netflix animated series will recognize Woo as the singing voice of Mystery, the purple-haired boyband member. In a surprising twist, Woo shared his thoughts on how his character might fare as a Killer instead: "I personally think as a Killer, Mystery Saja would thrive on psychological manipulation rather than brute aggression," he said, ahead of his starring role in the game's new chapter, All-Kill: Comeback.
In this latest update, Woo portrays Kwon Tae-young, a tech designer Survivor tasked with working on a virtual idol. Gamers can try him out starting tomorrow, February 24, when the Public Test Build launches on Steam.
Woo's history with Dead by Daylight runs deep. He previously served as a consultant on the game's earlier K-pop narrative, which introduced the sociopathic idol known as the Trickster. Reflecting on his evolution, Woo noted, "Transitioning from consultant to fully embodying a character through voice was both surreal and deeply fulfilling. As a consultant on the original chapter, I was involved in shaping the Trickster’s emotional identity—his ego, his obsession with artistry, and the narcissistic rage simmering beneath his polished idol exterior."
He added, "Stepping into Kwon Tae-young’s perspective in this new release allowed me to approach the world of Dead by Daylight from the other side of that mythology. Because I understood the Trickster’s lore so intimately—his betrayal, his fixation on control, and his warped perception of performance—I was able to layer that history into Kwon Tae-young’s fear and internal conflict."
Woo's real-world K-pop credentials make him an ideal consultant. He has performed with bands like XING and U-KISS, and recently announced a new subunit with U-KISS bandmates Hoon and Kiseop. When asked how his bandmates reacted to his work on a killer K-pop idol character, Woo revealed, "The irony is that while Ji-Woon Hak’s lore in Dead by Daylight explores betrayal and ego within a band dynamic, my real-life band experience was built on camaraderie and growth. That contrast actually helped me understand the tragedy of the Trickster even more."
He continued, "They mostly praised me about becoming a 'global Hollywood superstar' after KPop Demon Hunters. It was flattering—but I reminded them that none of this exists without our shared experience as global idols that paved the way for K-pop."
Since Woo first collaborated with Dead by Daylight in 2021, K-pop's global influence has surged, partly thanks to the success of Netflix's KPop Demon Hunters, which debuted last year. Woo explained how that project influenced his new role: "Voice acting for KPop Demon Hunters deepened my appreciation for how much storytelling can be communicated purely through tone, breath control, and texture. Without physical performance to rely on, your voice becomes the entire emotional instrument. In a game like Dead by Daylight, that responsibility is amplified."
He elaborated, "As a consultant, I wanted to ensure that the cultural references remained authentic. As a voice actor, I focused on making every breath, every strained scream, and every moment of fear feel grounded within the brutal, high-stakes environment of the Entity’s realm."
Woo also shared that voicing a Survivor was more demanding than simply reading lines. "To authentically capture that experience, I had to embody exhaustion, adrenaline spikes, and sudden bursts of panic. I would run in place during takes to elevate my breathing. I rehearsed strained vocalizations that mimic being hooked, injured, or chased," he said.
He contrasted this with his music work: "Unlike polished K-pop tracks, which prioritize control and tonal perfection, horror voice work embraces imperfection, cracked screams, unstable breathing, and vocal strain. The chaos is the performance."
Beyond his roles as consultant and voice actor, Woo is also an avid player of Dead by Daylight. "I gravitate toward a tactical Survivor play-style, focusing on stealth loops, careful map awareness, and team synergy," he explained. "I’m usually the one prioritizing safe unhooks, body-blocking when necessary, and healing teammates in concealed areas."
Dead by Daylight, first released in 2016, has consistently expanded its roster with terrifying Killers and Survivors from franchises like Stranger Things, Attack on Titan, Resident Evil, and even Nicolas Cage.
