KPop Demon Hunters: Jinu and Rumi reportedly had a kiss scene that never made it to air

KPop Demon Hunters has taken the world by storm with its bold mix of K-pop glamor and demon-slaying action. At the center of the chaos is the emotional bond between Rumi, the half-demon idol of HUNTR/X, and Jinu, the mysterious leader of the rival group Saja Boys.

Their relationship unfolds with tension, heartbreak, and unexpected tenderness, especially in the film’s final act, where Jinu sacrifices himself to protect Rumi. Fans were deeply moved by their connection, with many calling them the emotional core of the story, with the ship name Rujinu.

But now, a surprising detail from the film’s early development has sparked even more buzz. According to character designer Marion Bordeyne, a romantic kiss scene between Jinu and Rumi was pitched, but never made it to the final cut.

The moment, set during a quiet aquarium date, would have shown Jinu tucking Rumi’s hair behind her ear and calling her beautiful despite her demon marks. Fans are heartbroken over what could’ve been.

Keep reading to explore more about this deleted kiss scene in Kpop Demon Hunters.

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The character designer of KPop Demon Hunters pitched an aquarium date between Rumi and Jinu

Before KPop Demon Hunters reached its final form, a tender moment between Rumi and Jinu was pitched. Character designer Marion Bordeyne revealed on Instagram that, during the early stages of development, the team had planned a sweet, emotional scene between the two characters.

It was set at an aquarium, far removed from the chaos of the demon-hunting world, just Rumi and Jinu, quietly sharing a rare moment of peace. According to the post, this was the scene where Jinu and Rumi were meant to kiss.

Per Bordeyne's Instagram post:

"When the movie was still in early production, we all had the opportunity to pitch different versions of Jinu and Rumi’s date."

The caption continues:

"I wanted them to have a classic aquarium one and even wrote little lines 😅😅 it was such a fun exercise!"

At one point, Jinu was supposed to tuck her hair behind her ear and tell her that she looked beautiful even with those demon marks on her body. The artist even shared the quote Jinu would have said if the kiss scene had been finalized.

As seen in the picture, Jinu is kissing Rumi while saying, "As far as I'm concerned, you're just as beautiful with the cracks showing." In Kpop Demon Hunters, only Celine knew Rumi's secret, and then Jin also found out that she's a half-demon.

Despite that, Jinu remained protective of Rumi and even asked her to accept the truth, as his thoughts were mostly influenced by Gwi-ma. However, in the end, Jinu realized his mistake and wasted no time in saving her.

Also Read: K-Pop Demon Hunters dropped subtle clues that Jinu might be alive — Here's the theory you need to see

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How Rumi's voice artist and fans reacted to the deleted kiss scene between Rujinu

Not just fans, even Arden Cho, the voice actress behind the fan-favorite Rumi in KPop Demon Hunters, couldn't stop herself from reacting to the fact that a kiss scene was pitched. Cho has been actively sharing her thoughts about the dynamic between Jinu and Rumi, due to which fans call her the "number 1 Rujinu shipper".

The actress commented:

"Hehehheheheh oh my!! The fans know 😮"

A fan wrote:

"I KEPT WAITING FOR THE KISS BUT NEVER HAPPENED"

User @luli-sans-arts mentioned Jinu's death and wrote:

"HOW DID A KISS SCENE TURN INTO HIS DEATH IN THE END?????? WE GOT ROBBED..."

Another fan @_thesummerof1981 commented:

"...WHAT IF THEY LEFT IT SO WE CAN SEE IT SEQUEL..???..."

Since Sony Pictures Animation and Netflix are behind the creation of Kpop Demon Hunters, another Rujinu fan wrote:

"Song and Netflix really pulled the rugs under us. WHYY..."

From the moment Jinu appeared, Rumi seemed drawn to him. They slowly began to understand each other’s pain. But just as their relationship was about to move forward, Jinu died. A fan commented:

"They took the kiss scene and KILLED HIM OFF??!"

For a character like Rumi, who carries so much pain around her identity, this moment would’ve meant everything. Although the scene never made it to the final cut, fans now see it as a powerful glimpse into what their relationship could’ve become, a moment of love in a story built on sacrifice.

KPop Demon Hunters is available to stream only on Netflix.

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Also Read: Will K-pop Demon Hunters get a sequel? Possibilities explored

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