Girls’ Generation Proved the Real-World Power of 'Kpop Demon Hunters'
The current entertainment landscape is dominated by a seemingly improbable hit: the animated film "Kpop Demon Hunters." This Netflix sensation hasn't just topped streaming charts; its soundtrack is a genuine musical force, with multiple tracks in the Billboard Top 10. Leading the charge is the single "Golden," performed by the fictional group HUNTR/X—voiced by real life artists Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami which sits at number one in both the U.S. and globally. The sing along version of the movie debuted at number one at the box office this weekend despite the movie already being out for 2 months.
The movie’s premise is straightforward as the title states: the K-pop group fights demons using martial arts and uses their voice and songs to generate a potent, protective shield called the Honmoon, saving humanity from demonic forces. It's a fantasy built on the potent theme that music is a weapon against evil, a narrative that echoes real world events where K-pop has become an unlikely tool for political resistance.
While "Kpop Demon Hunters" pits idols against literal demons, its symbolism is strikingly current. Nowhere is this clearer than in the enduring political use of Girls' Generation's debut song, "Into The New World."
Despite being a bright, optimistic pop track, "Into The New World" has repeatedly surfaced as a protest anthem in South Korea. Its most significant recent appearance was during the turbulent "12.3 incident" in late 2024, when demonstrations erupted against President Yoon Suk Yeol’s ill fated attempt to declare martial law.
The song was the soundtrack of dissent. As the Korean Herald reported on December 6, 2024: ““Into the New World,” the debut single by Girls’ Generation, has reemerged as a protest anthem amid South Korea’s growing discontent with President Yoon Suk Yeol after he declared the ill fated martial law earlier this week. On Thursday, the song was sung across candlelit rallies on the steps of the National Assembly in Seoul, where demonstrators waved flags and held candles, demanding the president’s resignation. Hours later, it echoed through Seoul National University’s campus as students gathered to call for the president's ouster.”
This use of a polished, non-overtly political pop song underscores a broader message: that even pop music can be utilized to express deep political discontent and fight corruption.
The target demographic for hits like "Golden" and "Into The New World" is primarily girls and young women. It was young women who were prominently leading the protests against President Yoon Suk Yeol and other corrupt officials in South Korea over the past decade, demanding democratic reforms and fighting tirelessly for women’s and gay rights. Girls' Generation songs frequently soundtracked these movements.
The stereotypical protest song is often thought to be aggressive punk rock, rap songs, or earnest folk music. Girls' Generation provides a crucial counter example, showing that the power of popular culture to mobilize and unify can supersede genre. "Kpop Demon Hunters," while a fun, myth rooted fantasy, holds powerful, timely symbolism. The narrative of a girl group fighting demonic forces, including an evil demon boy band, arrives at a moment when various governments around the world are actively trying to roll back women’s rights. The idea of young women wielding their voices as the ultimate weapon against deep, pervasive evil is not just a fun popular movie; it's a resonant cultural statement about where real power and resistance currently reside.
Read more about Girls’ Generation’s songs becoming protest albums below: https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10399844
