Kpop Demon Hunters wins two Oscars in milestone night for K-pop

Tuesday 17 March 2026 - 11:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Kpop Demon Hunters wins two Oscars in milestone night for K-pop

Netflix’s animated film Kpop Demon Hunters secured two major wins at the 98th Academy Awards, taking home best original song for “Golden” and best animated feature, marking a first Oscar victory for a K-pop song.

Songwriter EJAE, who performed the vocals for the film’s lead character, accepted the award alongside collaborators including Mark Sonnenblick and Teddy Park. Speaking on stage at the Dolby Theatre, she said the recognition reflected a broader shift in global acceptance of K-pop, recalling earlier criticism she faced for embracing the genre.

The moment drew attention after the acceptance speech was cut short before all contributors could speak. Earlier in the ceremony, performers EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami delivered a live rendition of “Golden,” accompanied by a crowd waving light sticks in a scene resembling a K-pop concert.

The film also won best animated feature, with directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans and producer Michelle LM Wong accepting the award. Kang dedicated the win to Koreans worldwide, highlighting the importance of representation in global cinema.

Produced by Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix, the film outperformed competitors including Zootopia 2, Elio, Arco and La petite Amélie ou le personnage de la pluie. It had already dominated the awards season, winning top honors at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards and Annie Awards.

“Golden” also won a Grammy earlier this year for best song written for visual media, becoming the first K-pop track to receive that recognition. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks in 2025, underscoring its global reach.

EJAE’s path to the Oscars followed years of setbacks. After training for over a decade under SM Entertainment without debuting, she moved to the United States, studied at New York University and built a career as a songwriter, contributing to major K-pop releases.

Kpop Demon Hunters, which follows a K-pop girl group battling supernatural threats through music, has become Netflix’s most watched film and is set to expand with a sequel currently in development.