KPOP Demon Hunters Tackles Asian American Shame

By Daniel Harris

Note: This article contains spoilers for KPop Demon Hunters.

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'll admit, I was skeptical when KPop Demon Hunters came out. K-pop stars who double as secret warriors that ward off demons is a weird premise. When I found out it was a kids movie, I was even more skeptical. As an adult, I was expecting a movie with cheap gags without much depth or emotional resonance.

Suddenly, I started to see all these articles about how the movie was at the top of Netflix's trending list and how the soundtrack was blowing up on Spotify. I then learned that it had an all-Asian cast and was made by the same studio that brought us the excellent Spider-Verse movies. I still wasn't sold, but I was open to watching it with my kids.

Upon my first watch, my expectations were blown out of the water. Don't get me wrong, it's still a weird premise. There are some cringe moments, but the movie is self-aware of its weirdness and owns it.

The soundtrack is super catchy and will instantly get stuck in your head. The nods to Korean culture were everywhere and really fun to find. The characters were super relatable and hilarious with the over-the-top animation. However, what sold me on KPop Demon Hunters was how the story brought up themes of shame, isolation, community, and belonging.

The core premise of the movie is that there were generations of demon hunters who use their singing abilities to ward off demons by creating the honmoon, which is a kind of protective barrier. In the 21st century, a K-pop group known as Huntrix (comprised of Rumi, Mira, and Zoey) take on the mantle of demon hunter as they continue the never-ending fight against demons.

One of the demons hatches a plan to defeat the demon hunters and stop the spread of the honmoon: start a boy band and steal the hearts of the Huntrix fans. The demon Jinu makes a deal with Gwi-Ma, the ruler of the demon realm. If Jinu succeeds, Gwi-Ma will erase his memories of shame. We find out later in the story that Jinu had abandoned his family to seek fame and fortune. Because of his desire to hide this shame, Jinu now becomes a servant of Gwi-Ma

Early in the movie, we learn that the lead character Rumi is part demon, which is revealed by the markings on her body. Rumi is told by her mentor to keep it a secret or else she might compromise the integrity of the hunters. Jinu plans to use Rumi's shame about her secret in order to drive the Huntrix further apart.

Gwi-Ma represents the voice of shame that we all have. Towards the end of the movie, when it seems like all hope is lost, the voice tells Mira, who had been estranged from her family, "You thought you had a family, you don't deserve one. You never have." The voice then tells Zoey, who grew up in America, "You're too much and not enough. You'll never belong anywhere. But I can give you a place to belong."

Those of us who grew up in an Asian American context know how shame often plays a prominent role in family and community dynamics. Major decisions can be made based on shame. Decisions like who you end up marrying, where you decide to go to school and study, and even what career you might choose to pursue can all be based on shame.

This is largely because Asian Americans often come from collectivist societies. We tend to value the opinions of others and take external criticism very seriously. In the context of KPop Demon Hunters, you can imagine what kind of external pressures a K-Pop group like Huntrix might have. They are constantly in the limelight and under scrutiny from their fans. Not to mention the pressures they have to ward off demons and protect civilians from that threat. Add to that the secret Rumi is keeping from her fellow K-Pop members. All of this causes the members of Huntrix to experience high levels of stress and shame.

As a theology nerd, my radar immediately went up when it became clear that Gwi-Ma represents the voice of shame we have in our heads. For Martin Luther, this is the second use of the law. The second use of the law is to reveal sin. It shows people their sin and reveals their need for Christ. The issue is that Satan can twist the second use of the law in order to accuse us and condemn us in the same way Gwi-Ma does.

The hope we have as Christians is that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1, NIV). No matter how Satan might twist the voices in our heads to condemn and accuse us with shame, Paul reminds us that Christ has the victory over our shame and that we no longer need to listen to that voice.

One of the things I love about the movie is that it pulls no punches about the reality of shame. Shame isolates us. The end of the movie shows how shame rips our relationships apart. Huntrix has a falling out. It's when they are apart and isolated that the accusatory voice of shame creeps into their heads. What ultimately defeats the accusatory voice of shame is community.

In the final battle with Gwi-Ma, Rumi learns that hiding in her shame is ultimately what led to the demons invading their world in the first place. Instead, embracing her brokenness and bearing it with one another in community is what will revive her.

The final song "What It Sounds Like" serves as a kind of confession for the Huntrix as they confront the reality of their shame:

We're shattering the silence, we're rising, defiant
Shouting in the quiet, “You're not alone”
We listened to the demons, we let them get between us

But none of us are out here on our own

So we were cowards, so we were liars
So we're not heroes, we're still survivors
The dreamers, the fighters, no lying, I'm tired
But dive in the fire, and I'll be right here by your side.

This is the moment when Huntrix realizes that the only way to conquer their shame is with each other. The temptation is to isolate ourselves from one another when we experience shame. However, the antidote to shame is the exact opposite.

Hebrews 10:24-25 says, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (NIV). What the Huntrix discovered is that their hiding from one another is self-destructive. Rather, their relationship with one another made them stronger together and gave them the strength to combat the voice of shame inside their heads.

As with any piece of media, it is important for Christians to use discernment and engage critically. There are a few caveats which are worth noting. I thought the movie was powerful in portraying the Saja Boys as an idol we can be tempted to cling to in order to hide from our shame. It might not necessarily be a boy band like the Saja Boys. For a lot of us, we hide behind our careers, our sense of identity, or even our phones to run from our shame.

The song "Your Idol" points to this:

Keeping you in check (uh), keeping you obsessed (uh)
Play me on repeat 끝없이 in your head
Anytime it hurts (uh), play another verse (uh)
I can be your sanctuary
Know I'm the only one right now (now)
I will love you more when it all burns down
More than power, more than gold (yeah)
Yeah, you gave me your heart, now I'm here for your soul.

However, there needs to be some critical reflection on how the Huntrix themselves can become that "idol." This is particularly true for young girls like my daughters, who have watched the movie more times than I can count. Seeing these talented and attractive animated girls on the screen makes me wonder how my daughters are being formed by the movie.

Overall, I was impressed by the movie. KPop Demon Hunters did an amazing job tackling the topic of shame for a younger audience. As an Asian American, I felt that there was much in the movie that I could relate to. At the very least, it's amazing how an animated film with an all-Asian cast has captured the imagination of millions and dominated the airwaves for weeks now. But most importantly, KPop Demon Hunters reveals our need for grace and how being vulnerable with others in community can relieve our sense of shame.

Photo from Netflix

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Daniel Harris is a mixed Cambodian American who is the campus minister for Charis Student Ministry, an American Baptist Collegiate ministry on the campus of Ball State University. Daniel also serves as the content writer for AACC. He has an M.Div. from Truett Theological Seminary and B.A. from Howard Payne University.

Daniel has three beautiful daughters and loves spending time with them, playing board games, and reading books. For more of his writing, you can follow his Substack at A Hopeful Word.

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