'KPop Demon Hunters' is a 2025 movie with some Christian themes. Read Psalm 103:11-14. When we think of religion in Asian countries, we often think of Buddhism and Hinduism, but South Korea is different. Before the Korean conflict, the major religions were Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shamanism. After the United States ended its military campaign in Korea, Christian missionaries entered the country. Today, there are more people in South Korea who identify as Christian than any other religion. KPop is a cultural phenomenon that has run through American culture in the last 10 years, with bands like BTS and Blackpink leading the way. Then the movie 'KPop Demon Hunters' hit the theaters in 2025 and became the #1 movie, and then became the #1 streamed movie on Netflix. When something hits that big, I take notice. First, I listened to the songs, and I noticed the underlying Christian themes of forgiveness and redemption were present, whether intentional or not. For example, the song “Free” has the following lyrics:

“We can't fix it if we never face it

What if we find a way to escape it?

We could be free, free

We can't fix it if we never face it

Let the past be the past 'til it's weightless.”

These words parallel the gospel. The invitation of Jesus Christ is to cast all our burdens on him. We can be free from our past mistakes and hurts if we turn to Jesus. Jesus will forgive our sins. Jesus will heal our brokenness. Jesus will remove our pain as far as the east is from the west. But Jesus won’t take it from us unless we are willing to give it to him. Jesus made a way for us to escape sin and death. When we give him our burdens, we can have the weight lifted off our shoulders.

Lord Jesus, we ask you to forgive our sins and lift our burdens. Help us to live in the freedom of weightlessness as we follow you. Amen.