Let me start with Disney.

I have many complaints about Disney productions but one of the most objectionable is cultural appropriation. Disney takes source materials from European folklore and literature but then changes the cast and/or alters the storyline to make it appeal to a non-European audience. Just look at their two infamous live action remakes of beloved classics:

“The Little Mermaid” (2023) had a black mermaid who looks so unlike a) Ariel from the 1989 Disney movie and b) anything Hans Christian Andersen could have imagined his heroine to be.

“Snow White” (2025) featured an actress whose complexion defied the character’s own name (the Grimm Brothers gave Snow White her name because her skin was “white as snow”). On top of that, the actress dared to trash-talk the original 1937 movie because its heroine was saved by a prince and dreamt of true love, and to push her version of the beloved fairy tale as the more “superior” take. What sheer arrogance! 

I’m not alone when I say that I’m sick and tired of Disney meddling with beloved classics to fit its social revisionist agenda. Many parents are likewise so Disney-fatigued that when an original production, “Elio” came out this summer (coincidentally on the very same day as “KPop Demon Hunters”), they didn’t even give it a chance. They wondered why newfangled ideology (cough, cough. LGBT+) they would have to guard their impressionable children against.

That’s why I’m proud of “KPop Demon Hunters.” It teaches viewers that it’s okay to be who you are without the virtue-signaling prevalent in Disney shows.

Though Disney has preached this exact same message, it clearly doesn’t practice what it preaches because it disrespects the source material. Look here: if it’s truly okay to be who you are, then why isn’t it okay for a European fairy tale to stay authentically European? Why alter the story to please the woke crowd? Why not accept the story as it is — warts, stereotypes and all — instead of scrubbing it so clean out of fear of offending one group or another?

I attribute the success of “KPop Demon Hunters” to its being authentically and unabashedly Korean. It makes no apologies for dwelling on a niche audience: kpop fans, kdrama fans, and anime fans.

As kdrama enthusiasts, we on this blog can recognize many elements of Korean culture and society. I’ll mention a few.

1. The Saja Boys

Yes, “saja” is a lion, but after watching “Goblin” and “Hotel del Luna,” we know that “joeseung saja” is a grim reaper. The Saja Boys are wearing a black hanbok and gat because, like the grim reaper, they’re culling the souls of the fans for GwiMa.

If KPDH were a Disney movie, the producers would made sure that the Saja Boys was a politically correct band. First, they wouldn’t have been called “boys” because that term isn’t inclusive enough. “Quintet” or “pentad” would have been used. Second, the producers would have included a transgender, a vocalist in a wheelchair, and a dwarf. Do you get what I mean?  

Speaking of Saja Boys, who else here became excited upon discovering that Ahn Hyoseop is the voice actor of Jinu? We know him from “Business Proposal” of course, but his Jinu in KPDH reminds me of his character in “Lovers of the Red Sky.” Both their souls were trapped by a demonic monster.

2. The big tree where Celine informed the three new Huntrix members of their mission

Their mission was to create the Golden Honmoon with their voices and song so the demons prowling the earth and their boss, GwiMa, would finally be blocked out forever. It was just appropriate that Celine chose the spot under the tree to have this meeting. In shamanism, the tree is considered a “guardian tree” and the Huntrix are guardians of the people. The tree is decorated with brightly colored streamers hanging from its branches and a straw rope tied around its trunk.

If KPDH were a Disney movie, the creators would have tacked on an environmental message to the show (never mind how superfluous it would be) like arriving on kites instead of a private jet or using renewable energy source to power up stages.

3. The delineation of roles in a kpop group

We understand that the girls have specific roles to maximize their marketability. Each girl appeals to a certain group.

Mira is the dancer and visual of the group. She appeals to those who like edgy performers. That she wore a sleeping bag to a gala is most likely an homage to JYP who wore clear plastic pants to a music award.

Zoey is the lyricist, rapper, and the cute “maknae.” She’s half-American. She appeals to those who like cute and peppy performers.

Rumi is the vocalist and leader. Well, if she can’t sing, then the group fails. She’s a nepo baby, though.

If KDPH were a Disney movie, the creators would have injected a queer-coded character in the trio, just like they tried to do with “Elio.”

4. The Korean snacks and ramyeon

The snacks are familiar to us. Kimbab. Sundae. Fish cake skewers. Hotteok with cute cat logo. Shrimp crackers (or are they potato crisp?).

If KDPH were a Disney movie, the girls would have all been vegan.

But the personalized ramyeon was funny. To me, it meant that the three girls had endorsement from a ramyeon company. It’s a true mark of elite celebrity status when boy/girl band is paid to be the face of a ramyeon company. Ramyeon is a cultural treasure and only hires the best boy/girl band there is to promote the product.

5. The kdrama moments

a. The “meet cute”

Of course, Rumi’s smitten she first laid on him. They bumped shoulders and Rumi did the usual kdrama trope of falling down at his feet. But instead of Jinu breaking her fall, catching her, or helping her get back on her feet, he rudely brushed off any dust particles she left on his shoulders.

b. Blow hot, blow cold

Jinu was definitely sending her mixed signals. One moment, he was snubbing her. Another moment, he was bandaging her wound to protect her secret.

c. Walking along the Naksan City Wall

Who didn’t recognize the Naksan City Wall when Jinu and Rumi had their evening stroll? This is a popular location site for kdramas. I could imagine some pretty actor like Cha EunWoo, Byeon WooSeok or Jung HaeIn appearing at the next bend.

d. The accidental skinship

Jinu accidentally grabs Rumi’s wrist instead of the bracelet and they both stopped and blushed in embarrassment.

If KDPH were a Disney movie, Rumi would have accused Jinu of sexual harassment.

And so on.

6. The hoobae and sunbae dynamics between Huntrix and Saja Boys

We know that bowing is a sign of respect so the deeper the bow, the deeper the respect. But when Huntrix and Saja Boys tried to out-bow each other, we know that it’s no longer about showing respect but their preserving an image of humility.

If KPDH were a Disney movie, there’d be no hoobae/sunbae thing going on. Huntrix would blame Saja Boys’ instant popularity on systemic patriarchy.

7. The tiger and the magpie

These two characters were first seen in folk paintings in the 16th century Joseon period. The tiger is an auspicious symbol. A powerful creature, it protects from evil spirits. The magpie, on the other hand, is a good omen. Whenever it’s sighted, good news is sure to follow.

In KPDH, the tiger and magpie deliver the notecard from Jinu asking to meet with Rumi. This tells us that Jinu is really a man who’s been around for 400 centuries because he still communicates in an old-fashioned way. Their presence also indicates that Jinu had no intentions of harming Rumi.

Now, if KPDH were a Disney movie, an alternative method of communication would have to be found as tigers are an endangered species. Disney always manages to kill the joy when it virtue-signals.

8. The “five peaks” painting on the background when Huntrix sang on stage at the competition

The “five peaks” painting shows the sun, moon, and five mountain peaks. Traditionally, this painting was found on the folding screen behind the king’s throne. (There was a “five peaks” painting in the scene when Jinu was invited to the royal court.)

It’s said that this painting indicated heaven’s wish for the occupant of the throne to have a long life and glorious reign. It’s no wonder then that the “five peaks” painting” was also shown on stage when the Huntrix sang at the Idol competition. as they, too, wished for all their fans to have a long and glorious life — or a “golden” moment as their song said.

If KPDH were a Disney movie, a pride flag or a “Black Lives Matter” flag would have flown in the background as the Huntrix sang.

9. The noble sacrifice of Jinu

Another thing I’ve begun to despise about Disney movies is their latent misandry. In their rush to deify “strong girls” and “girl bosses,” they often tear down boys, by depicting them as stupid, shallow, clumsy, effete, and unnecessary.

Case in point: that actress for “Snow White” (2025). She wouldn’t be able to understand a character like

a) Rumi who wanted to help out a fellow demon, though he’s male, and
b) Jinu who sacrificed himself for Rumi and redeemed himself from his past mistake

because she views the two sexes as clashing and competing against each other. In her worldview, it’s hard to grasp that men and women can depend on each other and coexist in harmony.

If KPDH was a Disney movie, this actress would have blasted Jinu’s sacrifice as “toxic masculinity.”

I like a good old-fashioned story where beauty, romance, sacrifice, goodness, and men aren’t seen as dirty words. Disney unfortunately has lost the plot over the years.

10. Last but not the least, the Huntrix girls and Saja Boys are Koreans!!!

The creators of this animated film didn’t foist a multi-cultural group on their audience for the sake of diversity and inclusion.

If KPDH were a Disney movie, the creators would have forced us to accept a “United Nations” kpop group.

But this show gave us a KOREAN pop group through and through. And for that, we kdrama, kpop and anime lovers, are grateful.

Going forward, I think KPDH presents a better model for Disney. If it wants an authentic representation of a particular culture, then it should allow the people of that culture to tell their own original stories, i.e., stories from their own folk literature or from their own fertile imagination. It should stop appropriating western/European stories. But I understand why Disney hesitates to go this route. Commercial viability. They think these original movies won’t sell to the general public.

Here’s the song “Golden” to remind us that Disney (and Pixar) no longer corners the market on animation. Hurray!