"That death was so Goblin coded": Jinu's sacrifice in K-pop Demon Hunters leaves fans heartbroken

K-pop Demon Hunters has taken fans by storm with its unique blend of K-pop energy and supernatural action. At the center is the girl group Huntrix, who live double lives as pop idols and secret protectors of the world, fighting demons to keep the Honmoon barrier intact.

But the film’s most heart-wrenching twist comes through Jinu, the mysterious leader of rival group Saja Boys. Though secretly a demon, Jinu was never truly evil. Trapped by the demon king Gwi-Ma, he longed for freedom.

Fans were rooting for Jinu and Rumi to be endgame, but the story took a tragic turn when Jinu sacrificed himself to save her. His death hit hard, with many viewers calling it a Goblin-level ending. Emotional reactions flooded social media, and now, fans are holding out hope for a sequel in which Jinu might return.

A fan posted on X (formerly Twitter):

"...That death was so "Goblin coded" (kdrama fans would get this). They should better make a second part and resurrect him."

Expand Tweet

Keep reading to explore what else fans think of the bittersweet ending.

Fans are heartbroken after Jinu's death in K-pop Demon Hunters

Jinu as the leader of Saja Boys (Image via Sony Pictures Animation)

One thing that fans weren't prepared for in K-pop Demon Hunters was Jinu's death. It's revealed that he was once a dedicated young boy who wanted to give his mother and siblings a good life.

However, fate had a different plan, and Jinu kept failing. One day, he ended up getting influenced by the demon king, as Jinu believed his deal with Gwi-ma could help him. Little did he know that greed would soon consume him and he would become a demon, leaving behind his family.

And the reason why Jinu crafted a plan to destroy the Honmoon was that he wanted all those painful memories to be erased forever. But after meeting Rumi, Jinu once again believed in hope but again fell into Gwi-ma's manipulation.

Fans were waiting for a romantic connection between Jinu and Rumi, but that never happened. A fan wrote:

"NO HUG, NO KISS, ONLY HOLDING HANDS FOR JUST A FEW....JINU COMEBACK PLS..."

Expand Tweet

Another user on X shared:

Expand Tweet

Another heartbroken fan who wanted to see Rumi and Jinu together in K-pop Demon Hunters posted:

"I WAS SO ROOTING FOR THEM THAT THEY HAD TO KILL ONE OF THEM..."

Expand Tweet

A user named @MonochromeIcee wrote:

"..JINU NOOOOOO WHYYYYYYY WHHYYYYYY DID THEY DO THAT TO MY BOY WHY DID IT HAVE TO END LIKE THAT..."

User @futvrestar also shared the experience after watching K-pop Demon Hunters and wrote:

"Just finished watching kpop demon hunters. i would say it was a good movie but jinu and rumi dont end up together at the end and he f*** dies. im sad. im devastated. i have been baited"

As of now, there's no confirmation if there's a sequel to K-pop Demon Hunters, but fans love to stay hopeful. The animated musical is packed with energy, heart, and just the right mix of magic and music.

Also Read: Good Boy Episode 9: Release date news, streaming details, and more

Jinu was never a villain in K-pop Demon Hunters

Jinu in his demon form (Image via Sony Pictures Animation)

As seen in the finale, the emotional peak comes during a major performance at the Idol Awards, where demon doppelgängers of Mira and Zoey expose Rumi’s secret on stage. The shock of betrayal unlocks Rumi’s hidden demon powers.

In a burst of raw emotion, she lets out a scream so powerful it shatters the stage. Overwhelmed and ashamed, she disappears, and her bond with Mira and Zoey falls apart. But when the demon king Gwi-Ma arrives to devour souls, Rumi doesn’t run. She fights back.

Just as Gwi-Ma is about to strike her down, Jinu steps in and sacrifices himself to protect her. In his final breath, he thanks Rumi for making him feel human again. His death is tragic, but it proves he was never the villain people thought he was.

Afterward, Mira and Zoey return to Rumi’s side. No longer hiding her demon side, Rumi accepts who she is. Together, the trio performs a new song, "WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE," a powerful anthem of truth and self-love that strengthens the Honmoon and helps Rumi turn her shame into strength.

K-pop Demon Hunters is available to stream on Netflix.