Media

Emilio Colley-Aquino

Who Is Actually Watching? A Case Study on Kpop Demon Hunters & Heated Rivalry

A close-up portrait of a light-skinned young person with shaggy dark hair, warm brown eyes, and a gentle smile, looking directly at the camera. They wear a dark pinstriped shirt over a white tee, against a plain light gray background. Slight stubble is visible on their chin.

Journalist. Media Producer. Figure Skater. Bar Tender. Drag Queen. Aspiring Star.

This research is rooted in a case study on Kpop Demon Hunters (2025) and Heated Rivalry (2025), two recent pieces of culturally impactive breakout viral media.  This research questions why/how these two pieces of media were able to find widespread cultural impact with relatively low pre-promotion and marketing, and what this says about the type of content audiences want to watch in our current media landscape.

Lightning Talk

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