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In Q&A, UChicago's Angie Heo breaks down the film’s references to Korean shamanism and the religious undertones of pop-idol worship

This Halloween, trick-or-treaters are putting the final touches on their Rumi, Mira and Zoey costumes—homage to the golden-voiced, blade-wielding trio at the center of Netflix's smash animated hit KPop Demon Hunters. 

In the film, the group, known as Huntr/x, is part of a long line of singing female trios throughout Korean history. For centuries, the power of their voices has kept demons at bay. But just as they are about to seal the golden Honmoon, a magical barrier protecting humanity from the demon realm forever, a new boy band arrives on the scene—the insidiously catchy Saja Boys.   

The two groups must fight for the ultimate prize: the souls of their fans. 

With razor-sharp humor, the film lovingly pokes fun at tropes found in South Korea’s most popular media, while also celebrating them. KPop Demon Hunters also pulls from real folklore and Korean shamanism. 

“Shamanism is also a performance. It's dancing, it's a lot of music,” said Angie Heo, an associate professor of the anthropology and sociology of religion at the University of Chicago Divinity School. “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.” 

In this edited Q&A, Heo talks demons, shamans and holding onto our souls in the face of media’s seductive power. Caution, light spoilers for the film KPop Demon Hunters!
 

Read the full Q&A on UChicagoNews.