[Microphone on a stage. Photo Credit to Pixabay]

When the American-made, Japan-rooted studio project, Kpop Demon Hunters, premiered in June 2025, no one quite expected the ripple it made across spreading cultures and activism. 

The famous kpop idol group HUNTR/X, who secretly hunts demons with the power of music, clashes with the newly debuting boy group, Saja Boys, who are actually Jeoseung Saja, the Korean folklore version of grim reapers. 

Directed by Maggie Kang, produced by Sony Pictures Animation, and distributed via Netflix, Kpop Demon Hunters tells the story of courage and self-acceptance, while blending in Korean folklore with kpop aesthetics. 

The film's unique concept, catchy songs, and stunning visuals and animations of the characters quickly resonated with audiences, leading to becoming the most watched movie on Netflix, and even entering the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200 charts, becoming a massive success for both Sony and Netflix. 

However, no one could have anticipated how a fictional film could ignite real-world consequences–including the uncovering of Japan’s past actions towards Korea and the reason for the lack of tigers in Korea, all thanks to the international fandom. 

The film is heavily centered around Korean myths and folklore, effectively bringing in tigers, magpies, and Korean grim reapers into the play to add to the overall asiatic atmosphere of the movie. 

Derpy, a blue tiger referenced from an artstyle called “Hojakdo,” where a tiger and magpie is painted in the same canvas, came in the center of the crowd’s attention. 

His short and chubby appearance led many to quickly win over audiences, added with his clumsy attitude, he soon became a fan favourite mascot alongside Sussie, the magpie. 

Despite Derpy’s soaring popularity,neither Netflix nor Sony had anticipated the sudden surge in demand  and thus had no merchandise ready for sale. 

Fans began their search for Derpy’s merchandise, but not only did they learn the only merch of Derpy has been shared within the staff members that participated in the production, but also of the reality behind the low tiger population in Korea itself. 

During the Japanese occupation of Korea, the colonial government organized a campaign to hunt down tigers in the Korean Peninsula in the name of public safety. 

From the 1910s, right after the annexation of Korea, the hunt continued on through the 1930s,  by which point most of the tigers had been wiped out from the Korean Peninsula. 

However, Japan’s intent was portrayed differently by Koreans. 

Despite the tigers’ constant attack on their villages and being deemed a threat, they were also seen as guardians of the forest, standing strong against the evil spirits. 

However, the removal and hunting of such a symbolic animal also symbolized Japan’s domination over Korea.

On September 14th, a tiktoker posted saying she “just found out Japan took out all the tigers Korea had for generations last century from watching and searching the [tiger’s] history in Kpop Demon Hunters”.

The video quickly went viral, with many nationalities gathering up to claim their own thoughts and opinion on the matter. 

Many English comments expressed outrage, disbelief, and betrayal towards Japan’s action, claiming that “Japan’s rebranding must be studied”, or calling their behaviour evil. 

Conversely, most Japanese in the comment appeared to claim their actions were justified, as “tigers were a problem in Korea as well, and the Koreans had also been hunting tigers for their own safety”, or that “the tiger’s population had already been decreasing in the 20th century due to the war destroying their natural habitat”, therefore claiming the fault is not solely on Japan themselves.

The small spark lit by Maggie Kang and Derpy grew into a digital wildfire, reminding the world once again that pop culture not only entertains, but connects and educates.