KPop Demon Hunters’ Queer Narrative Explores Universal Resonance with Identity Confusion

Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” is regarded as more than just a typical hero story—it delves deeply into identity conflicts. The film centers on Rumi, the protagonist of the K-pop girl group HUNTR/X, who lives while hiding her identity due to possessing half-demon blood. The most notable aspect of the film is its rejection of a binary opposition between good and evil. Although Rumi and the demon Jinny are in opposition to each other, they are essentially the same being because both carry a mark. Jinny suffers from guilt over borrowing demonic power for his own desires during his human life, while Rumi contemplates whether her very existence is a mistake due to the mark etched on her body from birth. The two characters develop empathy by revealing each other’s “shames,” and through this process, they aspire to break free from isolation and achieve freedom. The setting in the film where Rumi avoids bathtubs encapsulates the core of its queer narrative. Rumi’s mentor, Seline, taught her to cover the mark and claimed that it would disappear naturally once the Golden Honmoon was completed. This conveys the message that “normality” can be attained through effort, while treating Rumi’s mark as an abnormality that needs to be cured. However, in the film’s ending, Rumi accepts herself exactly as she is and is able to freely expose her body by going to a bathhouse. The film’s worldbuilding creatively combines Korean traditional culture with modern K-pop. The concept of “Honmoon” merges the sealing idea from Shamanism with the emotional connection among K-pop fandoms, representing a modern reinterpretation of traditional practices such as performing rituals and using amulets to ward off evil spirits. The fact that the key condition for completing Honmoon is “emotional connection through music and fans” reflects Korea’s community spirit, which has built relationships based on shared emotions. The film consistently conveys the message that responding to hatred with more hatred is futile. As Rumi realizes that her hatred toward Jinny is actually self-hatred, the film shows that acknowledging the existence of others equals acknowledging one’s own existence. At the climax of the story, Rumi truly accepts herself and confronts the king of demons, Gwima, with a sincere song. During this process, Jinny restores his identity and resolves his past guilt by sacrificing himself to help Rumi. Critics have assessed this work as a symbol of South Korea’s global influence as a cultural powerhouse. The fact that Netflix users in 190 countries became immersed in and resonated with this Korean-themed worldbuilding demonstrates South Korea’s ability to translate its unique cultural DNA into emotions shared worldwide. This realization turns the aspiration envisioned by Baekbeom Kim Gu in “My Wish” in 1947—to lead the world through the power of a high level of culture—into reality.