Talking About Mental Health Through KPop Demon Hunters: Discussion Questions for Baltimore Parents, Educators, and Kids
NOTE: The blog below contains spoilers for KPop Demon Hunters. Please proceed with that knowledge.
“That’s the funny thing about hope. Nobody else gets to decide if you feel it. That choice belongs to you.”
This summer, KPop Demon Hunters took the world by storm with its flashy colors, epic soundtrack, and heartfelt story. Millions of families have watched the movie and streamed its hit songs for countless hours. But the thing that struck me the most when I watched this movie was how many mental health themes and messages came across in a way that was easy to grasp. I got goosebumps watching the main character, Rumi, battle her own inner demons and come out stronger. Whether it be self-worth, depression, or shame, KPop Demon Hunters tackled a lot of themes that both adults and children can see themselves in.
Themes surrounding self-worth and depression in KPop Demon Hunters
The movie primarily follows Rumi, a demon hunter who actually has the marks of a demon and must hide them from her bandmates. Throughout the movie, you see Rumi constantly put her own self-worth into her appearance, believing that she does not deserve success or needs to change something about herself in order to be accepted. Rumi hides her marks by wearing extra long clothing or avoiding activities with her friends because she is afraid of what others will think of her.
Watching Rumi’s journey throughout the movie resonated a lot with me. It can be so easy to feel like we’re alone in the world. Like some part of ourselves makes us different and unworthy, and therefore we need to hide from the people we love. Rumi was constantly running from something, having to hide who she was. So many people, myself included, feel this exact same way. Watching the way Rumi struggled with who she was and eventually found herself (more on that later), was powerful and humbling.
The importance of a support system
One of the most striking things about Rumi’s journey is her amount of positive social support. Even though Rumi chooses to hide part of herself from her friends, it is clear throughout the movie that her fellow HUNTR/X bandmates support her every move. When we let shame take control of our thoughts and actions, it can feel very isolating. However, so many people in our lives always notice and try to help in their own ways. For Rumi, her bandmates would invite her to a bathhouse when she was stressed or emphasize the importance of self-care. It can be hard to recognize that there are people noticing you and your struggles when you are in the midst of shame. Watching Rumi’s support from her friends helped me to take a step back and think about everyone who does little things to help. And also to find places where I can help the people in my life who might be feeling alone in their shame.
Running parallel to Rumi’s story in the film is the story of Jinu, a demon who struggles with his past choices haunting him in the present. Jinu has spent thousands of years ruminating on his decisions and allowing them to consume his conscience. He lets his past define his self-worth and struggles to see any hope or path forward. Even when he starts to see glimmers of hope from Rumi, he continues to self-destruct and pull himself back.
Just like Rumi, Jinu feels so real to me and a lot of people who have watched this movie. It is so easy to have one choice, however major or minor, hang over you for years. We often let our past define who we are and use it as a reason to punish ourselves or lose all sense of hope. This is why I really appreciated Jinu’s arc: he eventually learns that it is never too late to rewrite your story and make an impact for someone else. It can be hard to realize, but the only direction we have is forward, and we always get a chance to let go of the past haunting us.
Final thoughts on KPop Demon Hunters
No part of the film was more striking to me than the finale song, “What It Sounds Like”. When the world seems to be crashing around and the easy option is to give up, Rumi comes in with powerful reflections about owning her truth and not needing to “fix” anything about her. Not only is Rumi broken on the inside at this point, you can see her sadness manifesting through the cracks on her skin.
As the song continues, a metaphor of broken glass builds: “we broke into a million pieces and we can’t go back. But now we’re seeing all the beauty in the broken glass.” It can be so hard to take a step back and look at the pieces of ourselves we do not like. But there is beauty in brokenness. You do not have to be perfect all the time. Your shame does not define your worth, only the way you pick up the pieces does.
I attended the singalong version of this movie in the theaters and was struck at how an auditorium packed full of children sang these words so loud and proud. One kid even yelled “that’s such a good song!” when this one ended. We can all learn, at every age, from the journey that Rumi, Jinu and the other characters in the film experience. KPop Demon Hunters might be a silly, colorful musical that is trendy and fun to watch, but the core of the film reveals a lot about who we are as people and how shame, depression, and self-worth impact our mental health.
KPop Demon Hunters discussion questions for parents and children
Below, I’ve formed a few discussion questions for parents watching this with their kids that focus on the themes above. Feel free to use these to talk to your child about what they’ve watched and how they can learn from these characters. (Or use them yourself, they’re great reflections for adults too!)
Is there any part of you that you feel the need to hide, like Rumi did with her marks?
Is there anything you feel ashamed of, like Jinu?
What is something that you are hopeful about?
What are some parts of you that you really like?
Do you have any friends or family members that help you when you’re stressed or nervous?
Do you have any friends that you help when they get stressed or nervous?
Mental health counseling in Baltimore, MD
At LifeSpring Counseling Services we provide individual therapy services to children, teens, and adults who are also struggling with feelings of shame, low-self-worth, and depression. Therapy is a space where we can look at those parts of ourselves (or our pasts) that we don’t necessarily like. It’s also a place where we can build appreciation for ourselves and the wonderful parts of who we are.
KPop Demon Hunters was directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans and produced by Sony Pictures Animation.
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Written by: Jackson Borchers, Counseling Intern at LifeSpring Counseling Services
