K-DeHun; The Scent of Salim
K-pop Demon Hunters
Netflix’s original animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters (“K-DeHun”) has taken the world by storm. Featuring a K-pop girl group who dazzle on stage as glamorous idols while secretly fighting demons as heroes off stage, the film shattered viewership records upon release, marking the highest debut in Netflix Animation’s history. Its blend of flashy action, music, choreography, and global fandom appeal has elevated it beyond mere entertainment into a cultural phenomenon.
Yet the deeper resonance of this movie lies not only in its fantasy battles or the glitz of K-pop. What captivates audiences is its repeated emphasis on the human as a “relational being”—a theme that subtly connects to Salim, a uniquely Korean philosophy now gaining attention as wisdom urgently needed for our age.
The Self Completed in Relationship
The story’s central figure, Rumi, struggles with the secret of her birth as “half-demon,” which leaves her in constant turmoil about her identity. At times, she fears being a burden to her team. But paradoxically, her true power always emerges within solidarity. On stage alone, she is incomplete. But when singing and fighting together with her teammates, her voice and strength are magnified.
This mirrors the Salim idea of relational ontology: humans are not isolated entities but exist meaningfully only within relationships. One’s wholeness is revealed only when connected to “we.” Rumi’s coming-of-age story dramatizes this truth.
Destructive Relations vs. Salim Relations
The film’s villains, the “Saja Boys,” exploit fans’ souls. They warp relationships through obsession and consumption, turning music into a tool that drains rather than sustains life. This mirrors how capitalism often destroys bonds between humans and nature.
In contrast, the weapons of the Huntr/x members are not blades but music itself. Their songs connect people, awaken hope in despair, and protect community. This is the essence of Salim: not merely sustaining life, but mending broken ties and restoring lost solidarity.
Why Salim Now?
K-DeHun resonates powerfully today because it touches on real-world yearnings.
Despite technological advancement and intensified connectivity, people feel lonelier and more cut off than ever. Exhausted by shallow digital ties, they hunger for genuine experiences of “togetherness.” Global crises—pandemics, climate change, economic uncertainty—further deepen this instinct to rely on one another, to endure hardship not alone but in solidarity.
Doubt is also growing toward a society obsessed with endless competition and consumption. Many have realized material abundance does not guarantee happiness. Instead, fulfillment is increasingly sought in meaningful relationships, community roles, and shared purpose—all values aligned with Salim, which aims not just at survival but at restoring quality of life and communal meaning.
Meanwhile, the worsening ecological crisis has revealed that infinite growth and consumption are impossible. A yearning for sustainable living is spreading, and Salim—living by cherishing, caring, and sharing—emerges as a new orientation for both individuals and society.
The Golden Honmoon and the Communal Shield
One of the film’s most symbolic devices is the “Golden Honmoon,” a barrier against demonic attacks and a metaphor for communal strength. The Honmoon is not sustained by any single individual but only when members’ voices, fans’ cheers, and collective solidarity come together.
This visually embodies the Salim principle: “we live only when we live together.” In the face of ecological collapse and social upheaval, the shield that protects us is not advanced weaponry or massive technology, but the web of relationships that sustain life—the Salim network.
The Essence of the Boom: The Hidden Fragrance of Salim
K-DeHun’s success cannot be explained solely by K-pop’s global popularity or a big production budget. The deeper reason behind worldwide enthusiasm is the subtle fragrance of Salim running through its story. Characters with wounds and weaknesses find completion in relationships, and by sustaining solidarity, they protect their world. This theme transcends borders and languages with universal resonance.
Unconsciously, the film reflects the cultural legacy of Korea’s Salim: the wisdom of surviving crises by living together, prioritizing “us” over “me,” and restoring relationships to overcome adversity. Whether intentional or not, the message within K-DeHun carries the spirit of Salim.
More Than a Film
The phenomenon of K-Pop Demon Hunters is not merely another hit K-pop animation. It revives an urgent truth humanity has forgotten:
We cannot exist alone. We are whole only in relationships. And the power that restores and expands those bonds—the power of Salim—is the secret of survival in times of crisis.
K-DeHun is therefore more than entertainment. It is a cultural event infused with the fragrance of Salim through K-culture, subtly pointing toward a new path humanity must walk in this age of transition.
