Church of England School Issues Notice to Parents
"Please Respect Those Whose Beliefs Differ"
"References to Demons Are Uncomfortable for Some Christians"
An Anglican school in the United Kingdom has reportedly banned songs from the Netflix animated film "K-Pop Demon Hunters" (K-Pop Demon Hunters), citing that they do not align with Christian values. According to Yonhap News Agency, which referenced a BBC report on the 17th (local time), a school in Dorset, southern England, sent a message to parents on the 14th stating that some members of the school community felt deeply uncomfortable with references to "demons" in K-Pop Demon Hunters.
On September 14, at Seoul Plaza in Jung-gu, Seoul, foreign tourists were seen singing "Golden," a track from the Netflix animation "K-Pop Demon Hunters," during the 2025 Seoul Hunters Festival. This photo is provided to help readers understand the article. Photo by Yonhap News
"K-Pop Demon Hunters" tells the story of the girl group Huntrix, who defeat demons through their songs, facing off against demons disguised as the boy band Lion Boys. The film has produced several hit tracks, including "Golden," "Soda Pop," and "Your Idol." The school reportedly asked parents to ensure their children refrain from singing these songs at school, out of respect for those whose beliefs may conflict with the film's themes.
After this became known, an atheist parent told the BBC, "I think it's funny. My daughter is obsessed with K-pop, and all her friends love K-pop too. It's just a harmless, positive, and small thing that helps the kids build confidence."
Children enjoying themselves at the K-Pop Demon Hunters theme zone in Everland, Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by AFP Yonhap News
As the controversy grew, the school adopted a more conciliatory stance in a notice sent to parents on the 17th, stating, "Since the previous announcement, we have received feedback from other parents that the songs from K-Pop Demon Hunters carry positive messages such as teamwork, courage, and kindness."
However, the school added, "While we fully respect parents' rights to choose the content their children access at home, we are also mindful of the diverse beliefs within our school community. For some Christians, references to demons can be very uncomfortable." The school further emphasized, "Our role is to help children understand that some of their peers may have different perspectives, and to support and respect them in upholding their beliefs."
On the 4th, British football star David Beckham was knighted by King Charles III, and the "K-Pop Demon Hunters" theme song "Golden" played. Photo by AP Yonhap News
Amid this controversy, social media users have revisited previous instances where songs from K-Pop Demon Hunters were used by the British royal family. On November 4, British football star David Beckham was knighted by King Charles III at Windsor Castle in London. During the ceremony, the royal band played "Golden," the theme song from K-Pop Demon Hunters, as background music, drawing attention. Additionally, Princess Charlotte, daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales, once replied to a six-year-old girl's letter asking, "Have you seen the best movie, K-Pop Demon Hunters?" by noting that the song had also been played during the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.
K-Pop Demon Hunters unfortunately did not receive a nomination for the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA), the most prestigious film awards in the UK. According to Variety, a North American entertainment media outlet, on November 12, the BAFTA film committee ruled that K-Pop Demon Hunters was ineligible and decided to exclude it from the list of nominees for the 79th British Academy Awards to be held in February next year. BAFTA maintains a policy of only granting eligibility to films that have had a formal theatrical release, and K-Pop Demon Hunters failed to meet the minimum requirement of at least 10 commercial screenings over a minimum of seven days in the UK.
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