School Bans Students from Singing Hit K-Pop Movie Songs Over “Demon” Content
A school in Poole, Dorset, has told parents that students are not allowed to sing songs from the hit Netflix movie KPop Demon Hunters.
Lilliput Church of England Infant School said some members of the community are “deeply uncomfortable” with songs that mention demons. The school explained that these references “associate them with spiritual forces opposed to God and goodness.”
Acting head teacher Lloyd Allington later said the school had received feedback from parents who saw positive messages in the songs. He added that the school is trying to balance the interests of students who enjoy the film with those who find the content “challenging.”
KPop Demon Hunters, released on Netflix in June, became the platform’s most-watched film ever. It tells the story of Huntr/x, a K-pop girl band that secretly fights demons. A rival boy band, the Saja Boys, are also demons, and some of their song lyrics include themes of temptation and seduction.
In a message to parents, the school asked them to encourage children “not to sing these songs at school out of respect for those who find the themes at odds with their faith.” One parent told the BBC he thought the decision was “ridiculous.”
He said his daughter and her friends love K-pop and perform songs at after-school clubs. “It’s just a harmless, a nice little thing for them to do to get their confidence up,” he said. The parent, an atheist, added it felt “a bit of an imposition and probably a bit unfair and silly.”
Mr Allington acknowledged the feedback from parents, noting that songs like the UK number-one single Golden helped children learn about teamwork, courage, and kindness.
He said, “While we fully respect your right to make choices about the content your child engages with at home, we also want to be mindful of the diversity of beliefs within our school community. For some Christians, references to demons can feel deeply uncomfortable because they associate them with spiritual forces opposed to God and goodness.”
He added, “We are not asking parents to tell their children that there is anything wrong with enjoying the film or its songs if it aligns with your own views and beliefs. Our role will simply be to help children understand that some of their peers may hold different views and to explore how we can respect and support those peers in upholding their faith.”
The film was directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans and produced by Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix. It draws on Korean mythology and K-pop culture, featuring original songs and a score by Marcelo Zarvos. Critics praised its animation, style, music, and story. The film has set streaming records, and its soundtrack made history on the Billboard Hot 100, with four songs in the top ten and earning Platinum certification. A sequel is planned for 2029.
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