‘K-pop Demon Hunters’ sparks Vatican statue buzz

Aug 28, 2025, 09:38 am

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The “Saja Boys” idol group from K-pop Demon Hunters (left) and the statue of St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, which has drawn renewed attention from overseas fans. / Source: Netflix, Reddit

The global popularity of Netflix’s animated film K-pop Demon Hunters has unexpectedly cast a spotlight on the statue of St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon, Korea’s first Catholic priest, at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

On August 25, social media posts under the title “Vatican Saja Boys” went viral, featuring photos of the statue. St. Kim is depicted in traditional Korean attire—a gat (hat) and dopo (robe)—with a priest’s stole draped over his shoulders. Fans noted the resemblance to the supernatural idol group “Saja Boys” from the film, who are styled after Korean grim reapers.

Comments from international fans ranged from witty to playful: “Is this K-Pope?”; “Even the Catholic Church has fallen for the Saja Boys”; and “Maybe they were training hunters back in the 19th century.”

St. Kim Tae-gon (1821–1846) was the first Korean-born Catholic priest and was martyred at the age of 25. In 2004, on the 177th anniversary of his martyrdom, his statue was erected at St. Peter’s Basilica, marking the first Asian saint to be honored there.

#‘K-pop Demon Hunters’ #Vatican