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Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Opinion: KPop Demon Hunters through a Christian lens
Swiftly reaching No. 1 on the Netflix Charts in 33 countries , Kpop Demon Hunters has grown into a global sensation. An ingenious plot of a K-pop girl and boy band pitted against each other set to an addictive soundtrack has created another successful Netflix animated film, whilst honing an amalgam of genres such as action, musical, and even a hint of romance. However, beyond being an enjoyable film for all age groups, throughout the course of watching the film, I recognized that many aspects of the movie were surprisingly analogous to themes related to Christianity. In many ways, the girl group in the film, HUNTR/X, symbolizes believers of Christ. Rumi, Mira, and Zoey desire to restore the Honmoon – a way to shield people from demons – by sharing their music. The songs that they perform, like 'Golden' and 'What It Sounds Like,' can be representative of Christian worship music. In particular, people who listen to HUNTR/X's music strengthen the Honmoon, similarly to how people's faith in God is amplified as they listen to more music to praise his name. In contrast, songs performed by the Saja Boys – a demon boy band in the film – such as 'Soda Pop' and 'Your Idol' are meant to feed on the souls of the people who listen to their music. The Saja Boys are heavily connected to a major obstacle many Christians face: listening to secular music. Secular music can be defined as music that 'often promotes immorality and violence while belittling purity and integrity.' In other words, music with lyrics that promote sins outlined in the Bible can negatively deter individuals' religious faith and can cause us or our souls to fall astray. Furthermore, a more apparent connection to Christianity in the film is that the main villain, named Gwi-ma, resembles Satan as he tempts people like Jinu, who is the main member of the Saja Boys, to fall into sin on Earth, ultimately leading to their spiritual death as they become demons. For example, Jinu was tempted by Gwi-ma to abandon his mother and sister for a life of luxury. In other aspects, Jinu's ultimate decision at the end of the film to sacrifice himself for Rumi resembles the sacrifice that Jesus made on the Cross, since Jinu's sacrifice not only saved Rumi but also sealed the Honmoon as well, likewise to how Christians believe that Jesus' sacrifice saved us from spiritual death. In actuality, the aforementioned observations aren't solely based on speculation. In an interview with Forbes, EJAE, who is a songwriter involved in the film's soundtrack and is the voice of Rumi, said, ''I was raised Christian and remembered it's a sin to idolize something. So, it was like a twist of 'I'll be your Idol.' It was kinda creepy.' Therefore, there is an aspect of the film that is based on Christianity's view on idols. More specifically, let's analyze verse two of 'Your Idol': Don't let it show, keep it all inside The pain and the shame, keep it outta sight Your obsession feeds our connection So right now give me all your attention The message of these lyrics completely juxtaposes themes of Christianity, like not presenting one's worries to God, along with having unhealthy obsessions with things of the world, which are idols. Psalm 34:18 is a direct response to the first two lines of verse two when it reads, 'The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.' As for unhealthy obsession outlined in the third and fourth lines, Colossians 3:5 is a fitting retort as it says, 'Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.' Although not everyone may agree with this Christian perspective, these analogies still hold heavy significance to Christians who identify with deeper symbolism that exists in the film. My final remark is in relation to both a notable yet universal concern in the film and a driving cornerstone of Christianity. In the words of Rumi, 'That's the funny thing about hope. Nobody else gets to decide if you feel it. That choice belongs to you.' Related
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Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
[Grace Kao] Real K-pop idols cover animated ‘KPop Demon Hunters'
What does it mean when real-life K-pop idols cover songs from an animated film about K-pop demon hunters inspired by K-pop? A lot, actually. The Netflix film 'KPop Demon Hunters' has just reached a new milestone. It is the first Netflix film to hit a new weekly viewing high more than a month after its initial release. In week 5, it garnered 25.8 million views, its biggest week ever. It's No. 1 among Netflix films in the US as I write. It is on its way to being one of the top 10 most-watched Netflix films of all time. Moreover, eight of its singles are on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart — the lead single, 'Golden' (by the fictional group Huntrix, composed of singers Ejae, Aundrey Nuna and Rei Ami) is at No. 4 on the chart. 'Your Idol' (by fictional group Saja Boys, with singers Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Danny Chung, Kevin Woo and Samuil Lee) is at No. 14, 'How It's Done' is at No. 23, 'Soda Pop' is at No. 25, 'Free' is at No. 41,' 'What It Sounds Like' is at No. 43, and two versions of 'Takedown' (Huntrix's version is at No. 51 and Twice members Jeongyeon, Jihyo and Chaeyoung is at No. 90). Note that this is Twice's first appearance on the chart, a decade into its career. Not even K-pop idols can resist the film's catchy songs and dance moves. I first noticed it on YouTube when the voice actor for Jinu, Ahn Hyoseop, sang 'Free.' That made a lot of sense since he played the character. I think it still counts as a cover, but it was his character in the film. Kevin Woo (formerly of U-Kiss) was the singing voice behind Mystery Saja, and he released a YouTube short with a dance cover of 'Soda Pop.' He also posted a cover of his dancing to 'Your Idol,' which has 2.5 million views. Are these covers? It's debatable. The first definite cover I saw was Wonho performing 'Soda Pop' and 'Your Idol' in full costume. It was great and true to the source material, and it was released on July 9, 2025, just a couple of weeks after the film's release. It has since received 4.2 million views. I then saw BTS's Jungkook singing along to 'Soda Pop' and 'Your Idol' during a livestream. Some have speculated that he is one of the inspirations for Jinu of the Saja Boys, so that certainly seems apropos. Members from Enhypen, Le Serrafim, Ive, Itzy, BoyNextDoor, Ateez, Cravity, Oneus, ONF, Evnne, Plave and others have uploaded dance or song covers of 'Golden,' 'Soda Pop,' 'Your Idol' or 'Free." Plave is itself an animated group, but a cover is a cover. Junhee of A.C.E has a popular rendition of 'Your Idol,' which has 3.6 million views, and his cover (with Alexa) of 'Free' has 2.5 million views. Astro's Cha Eunwoo danced to 'Soda Pop' and performed 'Free' with Arden Cho (the speaking voice of Rumi in the film). More recently, Ryeowook of Super Junior posted a ballad version of 'Golden.' After digging around, I found that An Yujin of Ive, Lily of Nmixx, Solar of Mamamoo, Urban Zakapa and many others have covered "Golden.' An YuJin's cover has 3.4 million views. Solar's version has 1 million views, but the short has something around 4 million views. Yeji of Izy did a dance cover of 'Golden.' Tomorrow x Together even released a hanbok version dance practice of their B-side 'Eternally,' recorded in 2022, and gave the dance videos the moniker 'Demon Hunters ver.' Usually, singers and dancers cover songs that are better known than their own body of work — this is how one might attract new fans. Award shows and fanmeets regularly include at least one cover stage. Lesser-known groups will likely have to do more covers, and at their concerts, they often perform well-known songs to balance out their limited discography. However, what does it mean when an animated film inspired by K-pop and Korean mythology produces a soundtrack that compels K-pop stars to cover it? It implies that the songs have arrived. The choreography to 'Soda Pop' is recognizable to fans, both because of its similarity to actual dance moves by K-pop groups and because of its distinctive point moves. It's hard not to sing along with 'Golden' or 'Free' — just ask my sister and her kids. The often incomplete quote, 'Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,' suggests that the value of the source material is demonstrated by inspiring others to copy it. The actual quote from Oscar Wilde is: "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness,' which slights the imitator. In this case, I think the incomplete version applies best; K-pop idols inspired the animated K-pop demons and demon hunters, and they, in turn, have inspired real-life idols.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Roaring back: Kevin Woo finds new fame as the voice behind K-Pop Demon Hunters' Lion Boyz
Kevin Woo, a K-pop veteran from U-KISS, is experiencing a career resurgence through the animated film 'K-Pop Demon Hunters,' where he voices the lead singer of Lion Boyz. Their single, "Your Idol," impressively reached #14 on Billboard's Hot 100. Woo is also preparing a solo single, a U-KISS reunion, and acting roles in U.S. films, including Anderson . A Familiar Lion with a Brand-New Roar Kevin Woo 's listeners have exploded from barely ten thousand to over 2.1 crore since he lent his velvet falsetto to "Mystery," the charismatic lead singer of the animated group Lion Boyz in the upcoming film K-Pop Demon Hunters . The movie's first single, "Your Idol," even clawed its way to #14 on the Billboard Hot 100-a feat that would make many fourth-gen idols green with envy. For Woo, who debuted with U-KISS back in 2008, voice-acting an idol felt less like a detour and more like a homecoming: "I saw my old self in every frame," he quips, half-proud, half-nostalgic. Studio Sessions, Subway Sandwiches & Sleepless Nights Recording took the Korean-American singer ping-ponging between New York and L.A., powered by cold brews and way too many foot-long subs. Under the watchful ears of vocal director Lee Jae and musical overseer Ian Eisendrath, Woo experimented with everything from hushed whispers to rock-opera belts to give Mystery dimensional swagger. Unlike a concert where a wink or a dab can rescue a shaky note, studio booths demand pure vocal storytelling. "Every syllable had to hit like a killer choreo move nobody sees," he laughs-perhaps a gentle nod to every trainee currently sweating through monthly evaluations. Why Gen Z Can't Get Enough Gen Z stans aren't just streaming; they're dissecting Easter eggs. Many recognize Woo as part of K-pop's early international push-U-KISS toured Manila and Jakarta when passports were still rare flexes among Seoul idols. In 2025, however, his comeback feels fresh , not retro. The Lion Boyz concept taps into the same cinematic universe now occupied by Across the Spider-Verse and Arcane : stylized animation, hyper-catchy OSTs, and lore deep enough to spawn fan theories longer than a Tolstoy chapter. For desi fans posting stan art from Bengaluru dorm rooms, Woo's journey frames K-pop not as a monolith but as a playground where music, anime aesthetics and global identity collide. What's Next on Kevin's Playlist Woo is readying a solo digital single, plotting a U-KISS sub-unit reunion, and polishing lines for two U.S. features: K-POPS! (helmed by Anderson .Paak) and the indie horror flick Death Name . If rumors hold, a small-venue tour could follow, with ticket prices expected to hover around ₹4,500-a sweet spot for college wallets that already scrape together ₹999 for official lightsticks. Industry insiders whisper that the Lion Boyz soundtrack might spawn a deluxe EP; Woo simply drops a sly emoji when asked. About Kevin Woo Kevin Woo is a Korean-American singer born in 1991 who debuted as a member of U-KISS in 2008 and remained active for over a decade. Originally from California, his fluent English and Korean skills played a crucial role in K-pop's global expansion, and he's now expanding his career into solo music, voice acting, and film roles. He's currently experiencing a renaissance through the animated film 'K-Pop Demon Hunters.'
CNA
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
KPop Demon Hunters singer Andrew Choi, Jinu's singing voice, will hold vocal workshops in Singapore this month
Fans of KPop Demon Hunters in Singapore will be seeing a lot of Your Idol, Jinu, in the country this month. In addition to the demon's voice actor, Ahn Hyo-seop, promoting his new movie on Jul 29, Andrew Choi, the person behind Jinu's singing voice, will be staging multiple vocal workshops at the K-pop training academy SM Universe (Singapore). And yes, Soda Pop is also on the menu. Signed under the famed South Korean label SM Entertainment, Choi is a singer-songwriter who has worked with numerous K-pop acts, including NCT 127 and Shinee. Those who want to learn from him this month can choose from both one-on-one lessons and group lessons. The latter option will see participants learning the style and techniques to sing Soda Pop, the hit track from KPop Demon Hunters. Choi's one-on-one workshops will be held as one-hour lessons between Jul 25 and 29, priced at S$300 (before GST). The group lessons, on the other hand, will be held on both Jul 26 and 27, from 11am to 12.30pm, priced at S$420 (before GST). Registrations can be made via this website.
Express Tribune
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
BTS' Jungkook opens up about emotional reaction to ‘KPop Demon Hunters', sings ‘Soda Pop' during live
BTS's Jungkook once again shared his love for KPop Demon Hunters during a Weverse live session from Los Angeles on July 14. The idol, currently in the US with fellow bandmates, revisited his reaction to the Netflix animated film, confirming it had a deep emotional impact on him. Jungkook told fans, 'I cried watching KPop Demon Hunters. I really cried at the end.' He was particularly affected by the scene where Jinu sacrifices his soul to empower Rumi in her battle against Gwi-Ma. He added, 'When everyone was falling for Saja Boys & she was like 'I'll create my own Honmoon' & ran into venue by herself I was like 'ohhh' & then the tears came out.' The singer played clips and songs from the movie during his livestream, expressing disappointment that the American film did not feature Korean-dubbed songs. Despite that, he sang two of the film's standout tracks, 'Your Idol' and 'Soda Pop,' performed by the fictional boy group Saja Boys. At one point in the live, another BTS member, Jimin, joined Jungkook as he reacted to the movie. Fans flooded the chat with reactions, resonating with Jungkook's emotional connection to the story. Netflix also acknowledged the nod from the star by changing their cover photo to a picture of him from the live and changed their bio on X adding, " jungkook watched kpop demon hunters". While the bands in KPop Demon Hunters top Billboard charts within the diegesis, the soundtrack for the movie continues to chart on US Spotify rankings surpassing BTS themselves.
