As the Netflix hit KPop Demon Hunters continues to dominate worldwide, even a statue at the Vatican is catching attention thanks to its unexpected resemblance to the film’s boy group Saja Boys.
On August 25, a post titled “Vatican Saja boys” went up on Reddit, featuring a photo of Saint Andrew Kim Taegon’s statue, which was erected at St. Peter’s Basilica in September 2023.
The post paired the photo with lyrics from “Your Idol”, one of Saja Boys’ songs in KPop Demon Hunters, pointing out how the saint’s traditional gat (Korean hat) looked strikingly similar to the group’s stage outfits.
International fans couldn’t resist leaving playful comments like, “Even the Pope couldn’t resist their influence.”, “Even Catholicism has fallen for Saja Boys.”
Korean netizens joined in on the fun with witty remarks such as, “Just because someone wears a gat doesn’t mean they’re a grim reaper.”, “Saint Boys.”
For context, Father Kim Taegon (1821–1846) was the first Catholic priest in Korea. After being ordained in Macau in 1845, he returned to Korea but was persecuted under the Joseon dynasty and martyred at the age of 25.
He was canonized as a saint by Pope John Paul II in 1984, and his statue became the first statue of an East Asian saint installed at the Vatican in 2023.
Source: [1]
