Jinu’s redemption arc is complete—the movie’s ending gave his 400-year suffering meaning and the film its emotional core.
Sony and Netflix have announced they’re making KPop Demon Hunters 2, scheduled for release in 2029. In fact, as early as August 2025, just a month after the movie began streaming on Netflix, rumors surfaced that the film studio and streaming platform were already in talks.
What company wouldn’t? Both the movie and music industries were stunned by the unexpected success of KPop Demon Hunters. The movie broke streaming records (325.1 million views as of its three-month Netflix run), and its soundtrack broke music records (Billboard 200 and Billboard Hot 100 with four songs simultaneously in the Top 10).
* SPOILERS AHEAD *
The movie’s ending left fans brokenhearted over Jinu’s death. Before he was slowly consumed in Gwi-Ma’s fire as he shielded Rumi, the scene showed his sad face as Rumi battled the Demon God alone while Mira and Zoey were also being attacked by demons.
On social media platforms, fans were screaming: “Do something, Jinu!” followed by “Oh my God, not like that!” as they realized he was sacrificing himself.
Fans flooded their timelines with edits and fanfiction. But that’s the thing: the heartbreak, redemption, and the power of friendship for all are what made KPop Demon Hunters beautiful. There are more reasons why the first KPDH story is complete and why he shouldn’t return.
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1. Jinu’s death puts his soul to rest.
Sure, he gave away his soul after getting it back (courtesy of Rumi), but the sacrifice gave his character weight and purpose. His death wasn’t a cheap trick. His final act wasn’t about dying; it was about giving meaning to everything that came before. When he gave himself up to save Rumi and the rest of the world, it gave weight to the film’s message of love, friendship, and courage. To bring him back in the sequel will undo its meaning.
2. Rumi, Mira, and Zoey deserve a sequel story for themselves.
If he returns, the sequel risks undoing Rumi’s growth. Rumi doesn’t need saving—not anymore. What she needs is space to grieve and a new challenge. Watching her carry his memory instead of relying on his presence would make her journey even more powerful. We also want to see Huntrix moving forward, not stuck in the old story. There are so many directions the sequel could take, and Jinu’s return is the easiest, laziest plot.
3. His return would ruin the stakes.
If everyone gets a resurrection, then nothing truly matters. When done right, death anchors a story. It gives every battle and song a reason to exist. Jinu’s absence reminds us that not all heroes get encores, and that even in a world of supernatural powers, sacrifice still has meaning.
4. Jinu is alive in KPDH—in spirit.
He doesn’t need to come back in flesh and blood to still be there. His voice, his influence, and his memory can haunt the sequel in more powerful ways — through flashbacks, visions, or the songs Rumi sings in his honor.
5. It was the perfect goodbye.
The story already gave us the perfect farewell: bittersweet and final. I don’t know about you, but giving someone your soul sounds like a perfect offering of love and friendship. The best stories let love linger but not in flesh and blood, and the most courageous thing a story can do is to stay true to its goodbye. Jinu’s death wasn’t a cliffhanger—enough of those, please!—it was a closure to his suffering.
Bringing him back might satisfy the fandom for a moment, but it would rob them of what they truly loved—a story brave enough to hurt. Let the fans cry again, but this time for his memory.
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