A number of themes overlap between KPop Demon Hunters and The God and the Gumiho, making it a perfect book for movie fans. Both draw inspiration from Korean mythology and infuse it into a modern South Korean setting, though Gumiho takes place in the 1990s fictional city of New Sinsi. They star fierce female leads who can handle themselves against demons while also having their hilarious and silly moments. As with the movie, food gets some well-deserved appreciation with Hani’s love for hot chocolate and sweet treats. Like Rumi, Hani also carries the burden of a secret as she tries to hide that she’s the Scarlet Fox from Seokga. An unexpected romance also blooms between otherworldly characters. The banter between Hani and Seokga is truly on par with Rumi and Jinu’s.
The funny asides between characters aren’t the only element that makes the romance stand out, though. Just as Jinu and Rumi feel alone in their experiences, so too do Hani and Seokga. Sophie Kim writes, “They orbit each other, two lonely planets that are drawn together.” The depth of connection and feeling the two experience makes for a touching love story.
My son and I have now rewatched KPop Demon Hunters many times, and while the entire movie delights me, there’s one moment that hits me the hardest. My heart breaks every time during the scene when Rumi asks the mother-figure in her life, Celine, “Why couldn’t you love me?” and Celine replies, “I do!” Rumi fires back, “All of me!” This message about loving and accepting all of someone, not just parts of them, is so powerful. In The God and the Gumiho, I appreciate that Hani and Seokga are flawed characters. While they sometimes make bad or morally grey choices, they grow as characters as well. They end up falling in love with each other despite all of this. They love each other for all of the things that make them who they are.
Sophie Kim captures a sweet sentiment of Seokga’s love for Hani, writing, “If sunshine were a feeling, he thinks, it would be the feeling he gets when Hani smiles like that.” I hope that watching KPop Demon Hunters and reading The God and the Gumiho will give you some of that golden, sunshine feeling, too.
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