Slaying Inner Demons: What K-Pop Demon Hunters Teaches Us About Mental Health

Written By: Juanita Ibarra, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program

UNLESS YOU’VE LIVED UNDER A ROCKthis past year, you’ve probably heard about K-Pop Demon Hunters from your kids, your co-workers, social media, new outlets, and even your neighbor’s dog. It’s not only Netflix’s most watched movie ever and dominating music charts, it’s also a story of identity, shame, and community that resonates across generations. For parents, educators, and teens wondering how pop culture can positively transform mental health, this film offers a window into how narratives, representation, and fandoms, with a little help from a killer soundtrack, can function as mirrors, healers, and connectors. Warning – spoilers ahead!

Embracing “Hidden Selves”: Shame, Masking, and Healing
One of the most powerful themes in K-Pop Demon Hunters is the idea of dual identity or “masking.” Rumi, one of the protagonists, carries demonic patterns she hides from others – a metaphor that many viewers identify with in hiding parts of themselves, whether that’s one’s cultural background, queer identity, mental health struggles, or things they feel they won’t be accepted for. When she suppresses those parts of herself, she loses her voice – literally and figuratively – and struggles to be the lead singer of her world famous group. As she slowly confronts shame, accepts her shadowy parts, reveals her true self, and asks for help, the film models a path towards healing: self-acknowledgement, acceptance, and connection.

Why does this matter for mental health? Psychology suggests that shame and concealment are heavy emotional burdens — the more we hide, the more isolated and anxious we can feel. Letting parts of ourselves be known, and tested in safe environments such as a therapeutic relationship, is a key to connection and healing. The film showcases that journey in a visually captivating trojan horse that young people (and adults) can emotionally grasp.

Friendship, Collective Power & Belonging as Antidotes to Isolation
Another one of the film’s central messages is that we don’t heal alone. Rumi doesn’t succeed by going solo – she needs support from her bandmates Mira and Zoey, their shared purpose, and a group that will stand with her even when things are messy. This highlights a foundational part of the therapy process – connection is protective. The feeling of belonging gives us identity, support, shared meaning, and social safety. In K-Pop Demon Hunters, music itself is one of the main characters and represents connection and collective resistance.

This reflects how fandoms often work as micro-communities, and empirical research finds that belonging to online fan communities is associated with positive mental states, because people feel seen, accepted, and part of something bigger (Thomas et al., 2023). When an adolescent says, “I love this show, this band, this community gets me,” they’re sharing so much more under the surface.

What Parents, Caretakers, & Educators Can Do

• Encourage discussion, not dismissal: Watch the movie (or clips) together, and ask open-ended questions like: “What part of Rumi’s journey felt familiar?” “Who’s your favorite character, and why?” “Do you have any hideen demon patterns, and when does it feel safe to show them?”
• Use media intentionally: Use pop narratives as therapeutic bridges to offer emotional validation (hey, we’re not alone in feeling this) and model relationship dynamics and identity formation (Chang, 2023). Use the infectious soundtrack to your advantage – the lyrics can model inner healing conversations, foster a newly shared hobby of learning choreography with your teen, or simply wake your heavy sleepers in the morning.
• Support fan creativity: If a teen wants to write fanfiction, draw art, create a halloween costume, or make a music video, validate it as a meaningful outlet.
• Promote healthy boundaries: Fandom is great, but discuss the importance of balance with your child, and promote it with offline relationships, media-free time, and sleep.
• Seek support: If during these new conversations you sense identity confusion, perfectionism, or shame that feels overwhelming, consider therapy. Adolescent Counseling Services provides free and low-cost services to children, families, and the community.

K-Pop Demon Hunters is more than just a highly entertaining movie for kids – it’s an immersive experience that can teach us all about shame, hidden selves, community, and healing. By bringing awareness to how media, fandom, and storytelling intersect with mental health, we can leverage these tools not just for entertainment, but also for inner work.

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References

Chang, J. Y. (2023). How K-Dramas Can Transform Your Life: Powerful lessons on belongingness, healing, and mental health. Seoul Selection USA.

Thomas, N. J., McEntee, M. L., & Nangle, D. W. (2023). Online fandom participation and its relationship with belongingness and well-being among adolescents and young adults. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1066939. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10669391/