If ever there was a pop-culture wildfire, K-Pop Demon Hunters (KPDH) is the spark, the wind, AND the fire! Not only is it a popular movie (understatement of the year), but the music is fanning the flames of obsession: keeping kids and parents alike coming back for more. While we don’t recommend this movie for younger children (there are scary-looking demons and confusing messages), for older children, we do think this is a “you-know-your-child-best” situation. We find some excellent portrayals of truth in the KPDH, but we also recognize some potentially dangerous lies that a kiddo might absorb (even if the filmmakers didn’t intend them). So let’s do what we do here at Mama Bear Apologetics and ROAR! But first, for those who haven’t seen it, what is the movie even about?

It’s about K-Pop (Korean-Pop) demon hunters – literally! A fictional girl K-Pop band, called Huntrix, is the most recent in a long line of musicians secretly tasked with hunting and killing demons. Their ultimate goal, though, is to strengthen the Honmoon (the barrier that protects the world from the demon realm) through their K-Pop music. Rumi, lead Huntrix singer, is hiding a dark secret. Rumi has the tell-tale demon markings (called “patterns”) and they are spreading across her body. The patterns are like a rash that spreads over time. The more the patterns spread, the more she has to hide them. But they are now starting to affect her voice – the very thing she needs to protect the world. Meanwhile, a demon boy band called The Saja Boys works to steal Huntrix’s fans (and eventually their souls). Rumi falls in love with The Saja Boys lead singer, Jinu. (Yeah, you read that right.)  We discover that Jinu used to be human, but was so tormented by his guilt for betraying his family that Gwi-ma (the Satan figure) took control of his soul. In the end, both Rumi and Jinu have to accept themselves, including their shame, to gain freedom from Gwi-ma. You can probably already see that this movie is rich with messaging. Let’s try to identify some of the messages that could influence our kids.

 

RECOGNIZE the message (What are the main messages a person watching this movie will come away with)

1.SHAME is the enemy’s foothold.

Gwi-ma is basically the “Satan” of KPDH. As the movie progresses, we discover that shame is Gwima’s primary tool of control and manipulation over his minions. It’s also the tactic he employs to prepare humans to eventually have their souls sucked out to be imprisoned in the Demon Realm, where they are forever tormented by their own guilt.

2. GOOD & EVIL aren’t black and white.

We often think about good and evil in terms of “good guys” and “bad guys.” Huntrix, and all their demon-hunter predecessors, physically fight the bad guys – the demons! But Rumi learns that the real battle is within. The world isn’t so easily divided into “good” and “bad.” We each have a mix of good and bad within our own selves. 

3. LOVE can save some demons. 

Demons can be beings who are oppressed and manipulated by Satan (Gwi-ma) using shame. Rumi wanted to change the lyrics to the song “Takedown” because she thought it was too hateful. We can’t fight hate with hate. We should show love, mercy, and compassion to ALL beings, even demons. 

4. SALVATION happens when you embrace your authentic self.  

The more Rumi tries to cover up her patterns, the more they spread. Rumi is trapped in a shame spiral. What ends the spiral? Rumi’s patterns had to first be exposed, and then be accepted as a part of her identity. Rather than covering up whatever makes you feel shame, you will find freedom by embracing every part of yourself: both the good and the bad. 

 5. IDOLIZING pop stars can consume you.

People use celebrity worship as an escape from having to think about their pain. The problem is, the more you suppress your pain and obsess over your idol, the more you lose yourself. 

These messages contain a hefty mix of truths and lies through which we need to wisely discern. We always recommend starting with affirming the truths, because this can create common ground for productive conversation. 

 

OFFER discernment (What are the truths, and where have lies snuck in?)

TRUTH 1: The primary spiritual battle is internal. Just like in the movie, whether perceived or not, spiritual battle is all around us. But fighting outward evil won’t be very effective if we don’t first and foremost confront the battle of evil within our own hearts.

TRUTH 2: Shame is indeed a tool of the enemy. In scripture, Satan is called “the accuser,” and he accuses Christians relentlessly (1). He employs accusations to inflame feelings of shame, to beat us down, and to manipulate us. It is oppressive to be harassed and tormented by condemning thoughts.

TRUTH 3: There is power in confessing our sin and shame. Being open and truthful with people we trust about our shame can disarm the enemy. Trying to suppress and hide “our faults and fears” can wreak havoc on our internal worlds, eventually leading to destructive beliefs and behaviors. Honesty can break the cycle of sin and shame.

TRUTH 4: The demonic can present both in an attractive way and in a scary way. Sometimes, the demonic can be enticing and may even look morally good (like Jinu). At other times, their goal might be better met by scaring or intimidating you. Demons will disguise themselves in whatever way they think will deceive you and distort your worldview. (Even if they seem like an angel of light!) 

TRUTH 5: Idolatry is destructive. I don’t care how much the music “slaps.” No being in existence, not even K-pop idols (yeah, I said it!), are worth your devotion apart from the One who is the Source of all other beings. 

There are many people who are seeing biblical themes in KPDH, and these are just a few. But even when things have partial truths, there are always lies that sneak in. Now, let’s look at some of the lies that could potentially affect our kids’ worldview. 

LIE 1: Shame is THE problem. The world hates the biblical answer to this lie: that the real problem is sin. Sometimes our sin is a response to shame, but not always. (And even when it is, that’s never an excuse.) This is important because, as we will discuss further below, when you get the problem wrong, you also get the solution wrong.

LIE 2: All shame is the same. There’s a conflation in the movie of shame that comes from sin (Jinu’s betrayal of his family) and shame that comes from an objective trait that someone is born with (Rumi’s demon patterns). KPDH treats both sources of shame with the same remedy (see Recognize the Message #4). But the truth is, shame that is a result of sin requires a different response than other types of shame. 

LIE 3: Shame is defeated through self-love. This is not just a KPDH lie. This is the lie of our time! Self-love (or pride) might make you feel better in some ways. But if you’re really dealing with internal shame, trying to force self-acceptance is really just lying to yourself. At best, you can harden yourself and become calloused to sin, but this just leads to more destruction in the long run.  

LIE 4: All hate and negativity are bad. Actually, Christ followers ought to hate evil. Satan and demons are completely and totally given over to evil. We should not EVER show love or compassion to demons.  

Lie 5: Humans can become demons. Humans do not become demons (nor do we become angels). However, just as Jinu was being conformed to the demons, humans who ultimately reject Christ DO conform to the demonic. But they don’t become a demonic being.

Now that we’ve recognized the messages and pulled apart the truth from the lies, let’s discuss a healthier and more biblical approach to the topics of shame and the demonic realm.

 

ARGUE for a healthier approach

A HEALTHIER UNDERSTANDING OF SHAME: The Holy Spirit can use shame to convict us, but it is the enemy who uses shame to condemn us. He tempts us to hide our shame, usually resulting in more sin. KPDH is right that part of the answer is to bring our shame out into the light. But that’s not the full answer. Desperately trying to find and embrace your “true, authentic self” is not the way. We need repentance (a change of mindset and lifestyle), along with the covering of Christ’s righteousness, to experience true freedom. Furthermore, shame based on personality quirks is different than shame based on sin. We should embrace our unique interests, skillsets, and personalities. We should not embrace sin or anything that goes against God’s design for humanity (like “diverse” genders and sexual practices).

A HEALTHIER UNDERSTANDING OF THE DEMONIC: We can thank Hollywood for the rampant confusion around the demonic realm. We must help our kids understand: We. do. not. glorify. the. demonic. realm. We should not diminish its evil nor treat it like a horror film meant for cheap scares. We do NOT go looking for a fight with the demonic. We do NOT go looking to save demons (or ghosts – which, by the way, are demons). We also do NOT need to be afraid of such things, because we are in Christ, who is sovereign over even Satan himself. When it comes to the demonic, we don’t mess around with it. We point our minds and hearts to God and His Word. 

These are some hefty topics. To help guide discussion with your kiddos, we offer some suggestions to reinforce biblical truth. These include discussion questions, prayers, and even some additional resources to dig a little deeper. 

 

REINFORCE through discussion, discipleship, and prayer

1.If you choose to let your child watch this movie, ask them what they believe about demons. Find out what their perception is, and help guide them to understand whether their ideas of demons are being shaped by Hollywood or by Scripture. 

2.Watch/Listen to our previous podcast episode where Amy interviews Krista Bontrager (Theology Mom) about demonic oppression and occult fascination.

3.Remind your child that there is NOTHING so shameful that they cannot confide in you. Help them feel more comfortable sharing with you by sharing your own story of when you felt shame, and how exposing it helped remove its power. 

4.Help your young kiddos identify their emotions. If and when your child identifies a feeling of shame, talk about where that shame is coming from (2). Is it:

-A sin?

• • • Talk about what it means to repent. Explain that thankfully, when we fail, we are covered in Christ’s righteousness. Read 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 together and remind your child that it’s okay to give it time for our emotions to match the truth that we no longer need to feel shame.

–A lie about your identity?

• • • • If your child is having condemning thoughts about who he or she is, start by making a list of the lies. Then, prayerfully make a list of the truths. 

-Something that happened to you?

• • • There can be incredible shame surrounding things like sexual abuse or bullying. These are things that a person didn’t choose, and so we need to help free them from the shame that often accompanies it. Often, the person is struggling with how the abuser or bully made them feel  

-A unique interest, personality, or skillset? Embrace it!  Hillary often says that it’s the things that people have most rejected us for in the past that can often make us great at what God has called us to do. Are you obsessed with praying mantises? Go get that PhD in entomology! Have a burning desire to teach everyone all the time? It’ll probably come in useful one day (but not when you’re in middle school and high school). Embrace how God made you! Have a conversation with God, asking Him to reveal how you contribute uniquely to the Kingdom of God.   

5.Here are two opposing perspectives from Christians who watched KPDH. Personally, I think they both make excellent points! Watch these with your kids (middle school and up) and discuss: 

• • This is a mostly negative review discussing potentially confusing and unbiblical messages in the movie.
  • This is a very positive review (3) coming from the perspective that the movie inadvertently expresses powerful theological truths. 

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(1) Revelation 12:10

(2) See our KPDH Podcast where Hillary further explains this.

(3) We have not vetted and are not endorsing this entire YouTube channel.