Anime and nerd conventions have their own rituals—artist alleys, panel line culture, the occasional relic like yaoi paddles. Veterans know the rhythms. Now KPop Demon Hunters has spawned a new one. The Netflix musical has only been out for two months, but it’s already leaving its mark on cons around the globe as fans set up spaces to pay respects to their favorite demon boy-band heartthrob.
Spoiler Warning
Jinu, lead vocalist of the Saja Boys and not-quite-boyfriend to Huntr/x singer Rumi, is a demon with a past he’d rather forget. He fronts a campaign for hearts and minds against Huntr/x, but Rumi pulls him toward the light. It’s messy: before the final showdown he betrays her, nearly feeding Seoul’s K-pop faithful to the demon king, Gwi-ma. In the climactic battle, Gwi-ma unleashes a soul-fueled blast that would have ended Rumi—until Jinu steps between them and takes the hit. Dying, he tells Rumi she set him free, leaves her his soul to power the sword, and gives her the strength to finish the fight.
Redemption arcs are great and all—but my babies didn’t even get to kiss. “Are they lovers? Worse. They never got to be.” The fandom feels the same. Memorials for Jinu have begun appearing at conventions everywhere: a printed portrait anchored at the center, ringed with offerings—stickers, handwritten notes, even empty soda cans and bottles nodding to the Saja Boys’ breakout hit, “Soda Pop.”
R.I.P. to a real one. And yet, a hopeful slice of the fandom is convinced our demon diva will return in the inevitable sequel, since the film implies his soul lives on within Rumi’s sword. I’m open to miracles—but until I see Jinu fully rematerialize and plant a kiss on Rumi’s forehead, I expect to keep stumbling upon makeshift shrines to him at every con I attend.
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