KPop Demon Hunters hints at a rich, deep lore that provides a fertile ground for various extensive fan theories to crop up, many of which would have mᴀssive overarching story implications for the world and possible sequels. Centered on a pop idol trio who moonlight as demon slayers, KPop Demon Hunters has shattered multiple records with its popularity.
The recently unprecedented popularity of a wholly original animated story has all but ᴀssured that KPop Demon Hunters will get a sequel. Although nothing has been confirmed yet, everything from a prequel series to a straightforward animated follow-up to a live-action version has been discussed.
The lore and universe of KPop Demon Hunters has allowed for endless speculation by way of theories that explain certain aspects of the standalone film. With references to Korean mythology, real-world idol dynamics, and even traditional Abrahamic cosmology, there are many fascinating elements of the story to pick apart, possibly unearthing huge implications for any sequels.
5
Huntr/x Will Get A Fourth New Member
KPop Demon Hunters explains that there have been several musical trios over the decades protecting humanity, a lineage that extends to Huntr/x themselves. The dissolution of Celine’s group with the death of Mi-yeong implies that only three Hunters can exist at a time.
This emphasis on groups of three is a clear nod to the actual history of K-pop idols. Artists like The Kim Sisters, S.E.S., and The Hee Sisters were the prototypical first K-pop idol groups in real life, all consisting of three members, and the film’s opening montage showing various trios serving as Hunters over the ages seems to be a direct homage to this history.
However, with the new Honmoon in place, as shown in KPop Demon Hunters‘ ending, it seems as though this convention will soon be challenged. Just as idol groups evolved past the strict format of three members in real life, so too can the Demon Hunters of Huntr/x go boldly into the future by swelling their ranks to include a new member.
This hypothetical new member could also serve to embody K-pop’s continued global popularity in the real world, inspiring non-Korean artists to pursue the same styles of music or glamor. While Zoey is technically half-American, Huntr/x’s potential new recruit could be another nationality entirely, further representing the modern growth of K-pop as a worldwide phenomenon.
4
The Members Of Huntr/x Will Represent The Mythological Four Guardians
There’s another good reason to suppose that Huntr/x will welcome a new member in a KPop Demon Hunters sequel. The roots of Korean mythology seem to imply Huntr/x could become a quartet in the near future.
In Sino-Korean folklore, there exists a quartet of mythological deities referred to as the “Four Symbols,” or alternatively, the Four Guardians, Four Gods, or Four Auspicious Beasts. These are each represented by a color, an animal, and a cardinal direction, including the Azure Dragon of the East, the Vermilion Bird of the South, the White Tiger of the West, and the Black Tortoise of the North.
Looking at the visual language and designs of the members of Huntr/x, there are some clear parallels between each member and one of the Four Guardians. Staring with the most obvious, Rumi not only wears white, but bears the markings of her demonic heritage that look suspiciously like tiger stripes, marking her as the White Tiger of the West.
Meanwhile, Zoey wears turquoise (also known as “azure”) and enters combat with two fistfuls of three knives, fanning out in a manner that mimics the claws of the Azure Dragon of the East. Finally, Mira wears black, has long hair covering her back, and wears shoulder pads or even a sleeping bag, evoking the dark shell of the Black Tortoise of the North.
Mira is also the toughest fighter of the group, similarly to how the Black Tortoise is sometimes called the “Black Warrior.”
This leaves only one Guardian missing from Huntr/x’s lineup: the Vermillion Bird of the South. Whoever the fourth member of Huntr/x ends up being, she’ll likely wear bright orange-red and bear some kind of elaborate plumage-looking hairstyle or fiery weaponry that calls to mind the flaming symbolism of the final remaining Guardian.
Looking at real-world examples, the K-pop group Blackpink, whose music heavily influenced KPop Demon Hunters‘ phenomenal soundtrack, did a series of promotions for their song How You Like That wherein each member wore an outfit loosely correlating to one of the Four Guardians. The one to represent the Vermillion Bird was Lisa.
Lisa broke K-pop conventions by being Blackpink’s first non-Korean member, originally hailing from Thailand. This suggests even more strongly that Huntr/x’s potential fourth member will be a non-Korean idol as well as representing the final remaining Guardian.
3
Rumi Is Actually A Demi-God
For much of the story, a huge point of conflict stems from Rumi’s secret half-demon heritage, something she only embraces and reveals to her comrades towards the emotionally-charged climax. Rumi’s demonic new form is shocking, but it’s possible that her markings aren’t demonic at all.
Despite being half-demon from the very beginning of her life, Rumi is never shown to hear the whispering influence of Gwi-Ma. It’s important to note that Gwi-Ma isn’t based off of any discernible influence from Sino-Korean folklore. Rather, he’s more of an amalgamation of the Western concept of an ultimate demon ruling over the underworld, a Satan or Lucifer-like figure.
Thus, it would track that the world of KPop Demon Hunters also had some all-powerful heavenly “good” deity to serve in opposition to Gwi-Ma. It could be that Rumi’s heritage isn’t actually that of a demon, but a half-celestial enтιтy with parentage from this divine influence. This would explain her seeming immunity to Gwi-Ma’s influence.
2
Jinu Will Face Trials Of Heaven In Order To Be Allowed To Reincarnate
The possible return of Jinu is something that has incited ferocious speculation owing to the half-good, half-bad demon’s popularity as a romantic interest and foil to Rumi. Once again, looking to actual Korean mythology might explain why fans have a right to be more hopeful about Jinu’s return and redemption than they might initially think.
In Korean folklore, the afterlife is a bureaucratic nightmare, with countless souls being managed for overcrowding and only a small few granted the privilege of reincarnation. When Jinu dies in KPop Demon Hunters, his soul is seemingly absorbed into Rumi’s sword, whose blade is decorated with a constellation motif.
This might be more than mere decoration, but instead an ominous portent of what’s to come of Jinu’s sacrifice. Having lived a complicated life, Jinu’s final selfless act may have been enough to grant him entry into the celestial side of KPop Demon Hunters’ afterlife, ready to be judged to see if he’s worthy of reincarnation.
1
The Saja Boys Sold Their Souls To Gwi-Ma As Bargains (Possibly Through Dr. Han)
For as much attention as Jinu gets in KPop Demon Hunters, the rest of the Saja Boys are sadly neglected by the plot. Very little is known about the earlier lives of the rest of Jinu’s crew, and whether they were once humans like him or were demons from birth isn’t even known.
That being said, a small background detail seems to imply the former over the latter. During the scene in Dr. Han’s office, a small pH๏τograph can be glimpsed in the background featuring four young men, seemingly an idol group. One theory supposes that this is actually a picture of the Saja Boys sans Jinu before they made it big.
According to the theory, not only is Dr. Han secretly working for Gwi-Ma, finding vulnerable idols to strike Faustian bargains with for Gwi-Ma’s use, but he cursed the once-human Saja Boys into becoming demons. It could even be that the Saja Boys’ personalities are reflective of the issues they had as humans.
For instance, Mystery may have been doxxed, and his bargain with Gwi-Ma included a wish for privacy that forced him to adopt an enigmatic, featureless persona. Baby may have been overly Sєxualized by fans, leading to his infantilization, and Abby may have been suffering from envy and body dysmorphia, resulting in a stunning physical transformation.
Finally, Romance may have been a more aloof and socially distant idol, meaning his wish may have been for the charisma to win over the hearts of his fans. Each of the Saja Boys may have struck up these cursed deals with Gwi-Ma in exchange for becoming his demonic figureheads.
In any case, the mystery of the non-Jinu Saja Boys is one of the most H๏τly-anticipated areas for a sequel (or prequel) to expand on. It could very well be that this fan theory is eerily accurate in predicting where KPop Demon Hunters may go next with its story.
