K-Pop, Demons & Deeper Truths: What a Kids’ Movie Taught Me About Being Human

Last week, we hosted a movie night, well, more like a movie afternoon. 

The film of choice? Netflix’s #1 kids movie, K-Pop: Demon Hunters. I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t sure what to expect. An animated action film with a K-pop twist? I figured, why not give it a go?

What I didn’t expect was how much the film would stay with me.

For a children’s film whose setting draws from a Korean culture that is unfamiliar to many, including myself, K-Pop: Demon Hunters is unexpectedly profound. According to Time Magazine, it’s on track to become Netflix’s most-watched film ever and after watching it, I can see why.

Here are three powerful takeaways that stayed with me:

1. Self-editing & inner demons

We all carry parts of ourselves we’re tempted to hide. Rumi, the main character, is part demon, an aspect of herself that she tries to suppress until she’s forced to confront it. From my view, this struggle acts as a surprisingly deep and poignant metaphor for mental health: suppressing our “demons” doesn’t help us; facing them does. It’s a reminder that we’re better off being honest about our struggles than pretending they don’t exist.

2. Embracing uniqueness

When Rumi reveals her secret, others start opening up too about their quirks, preferences, and personalities. The message is clear: being different is not only okay, it’s what makes each of us unique. This felt like a quiet but powerful nod to neurodiversity and the beauty of embracing who we truly are.

3. Collective power & community

Ultimately, the Demon Hunters’ mission is about unity, spreading positive, empowering messages through their music and bringing people together. The film shows that when we appreciate each other’s differences, we’re stronger together. Community can silence even the loudest of inner demons.

I also loved that the story was rooted in Korean culture, from the names to the setting to the metaphors adopted. Co-director Maggie Kang shared that the idea came from a deep desire “to see something set in Korea and to really embrace that.” Mission accomplished.

Sometimes, it takes the folklore of another culture to reflect truths we don’t pay attention to in our day-to-day. For me, it was a bit of a wake-up call around embracing my own individuality.

Watching this film is a powerful reminder of why diverse storytelling matters, not just across generations, but across cultures too. Who tells the story shapes the message. And maybe we are in need of messaging and content that challenge our thinking in different ways. No wonder a sequel is already in the works. 

Oh, and the songs? Genuinely catchy.