This Halloween, many children are dressing up as characters from the animated Netflix film "KPop Demon Hunters," which features the trio Huntr/x. The movie, known for its blend of humor and cultural references, follows a tradition of singing female trios in Korean history who use their voices to protect humanity from demons. The plot centers on Huntr/x’s attempt to seal a magical barrier called the Honmoon, only to be challenged by a new boy band, the Saja Boys, as both groups compete for the souls of their fans.
The film draws on themes from South Korea’s media and incorporates elements of Korean folklore and shamanism. Angie Heo, associate professor at the University of Chicago Divinity School, noted, “Shamanism is also a performance. It's dancing, it's a lot of music. This film is an elevation of shamanic traditions onto the global K-pop stage for an audience of mass spectators who have a parasocial relationship with these idols.”
Heo described "KPop Demon Hunters" as significant in the context of The Korea Wave, pointing out its impact on audiences outside Korea. “KPop Demon Hunters is a game-changer in The Korea Wave. I mean, you have these seven-year-olds in Chicago singing songs with Korean lyrics,” she said. She also highlighted the diasporic nature of the film, mentioning the Korean Canadian director Maggie Kang and the involvement of a Korean-American cast.
When asked about the connection between demon hunters and shamans, Heo explained that while shamans are typically women who address spiritual problems through music and ritual, they are not necessarily demon hunters. In shamanism, spirits are often restless rather than evil, and shamans seek to bring them peace.
Discussing the Saja Boys, Heo observed that their costumes reference both historical Korean aristocracy and the figure of Jeoseung saja, or Grim Reaper, playing with themes of gender and class.
Heo also addressed how shamanism is viewed in modern Korea, noting that it is often seen as superstition compared to Christianity, Catholicism, and Buddhism. However, she said that shamanic symbols have become more prominent as representations of traditional culture in contemporary media.
The film’s animal characters—the tiger and magpie—also have roots in Korean mythology. According to Heo, “The tiger is known for warding off evil spirits. You’ll notice the magpie has three eyes, like the cameras on the Samsung Galaxy phone (from a Korean tech company). It's a play on technology and mediumship, because the magpie brings good news, like a telephone.”
Regarding the depiction of demons in the film, Heo explained that while some are based on traditional spirits or goblins, others like the main antagonist Gwi-Ma are original creations.
Heo also drew parallels between pop idols and saints, stating: “If you gain too much popularity, then you might end up developing hubris. But you need to be popular. You need to collect thousands of stories from all over the world in order to be canonized. There’s something about popularization by numbers, literally collecting them, that’s an analogy to fandom. There is also a similar way in which you must perform moral virtues for the public.”
Reflecting on the global popularity of Korean media, Heo compared "KPop Demon Hunters" with "Squid Game," another Netflix hit from Korea. Both works explore themes of celebrity, fandom, morality, and maintaining one’s sense of self amid media spectacle.