Los Angeles: The Netflix animated blockbuster KPop Demon Hunters has secured two major honours at the Academy Awards, winning Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Song.
The film, which tells the story of supernatural K-pop stars battling dark forces, has captured the imagination of both children and adults worldwide since its release last year. Its empowering theme song Golden has also become a global music sensation, dominating international charts.
At the awards ceremony, the voices behind the fictional girl group Huntr/x — Ejae, Rei Ami, and Audrey Nuna performed Golden for the audience. The performance took place in front of a sea of glowing light sticks, a familiar element of K-pop concerts.
GONNA BE GONNA BE GOLDEN 💫 KPOP DEMON HUNTERS wins the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Performed by EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, and REI AMI.
Written by EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam (IDO), Jeong Hoon Seon (24), and Park Hong Jun (TEDDY). pic.twitter.com/Eifv52opkh
— Netflix (@netflix) March 16, 2026
While accepting the Best Original Song award, Ejae became emotional and shared her personal experience growing up as a K-pop fan. Ejae said that people often mocked her for liking K-pop when she was younger, but now, hearing audiences around the world sing along, including the Korean lyrics, made her feel incredibly proud.
The award for Best Animated Feature Film was accepted by the Movie’s Directors, Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, together with producer Michelle LM Wong. Kang, who received her first Oscar nomination for the film, described the victory as a moment for Korea and for Koreans everywhere.
The Director added that it was meaningful for people who share her background to finally see themselves represented on screen in a film like this, noting that future generations will no longer have to wait to see such representation.
Global popularity
K-Pop Demon Hunters centres on a K-pop girl group whose voices become powerful weapons used to fight demons. Their main rivals include a mysterious boy band from the underworld whose hypnotic singing allows them to capture human souls.
The film’s soundtrack has produced several popular songs performed by its fictional artists. Among the biggest hits are Golden and Soda Pop, the latter performed by the rival group known as the Saja Boys.
On the Oscars red carpet, Ejae, Rei Ami, and Audrey Nuna wore shimmering golden gowns as a tribute to their chart-topping song. The Academy Awards add to an already impressive list of achievements for the film. Earlier, K-Pop Demon Hunters won Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at the Golden Globe Awards.
Last month, Golden also made history as the first-ever K-pop track to win a prize at the Grammy Awards. Following the film’s global success, Netflix has confirmed that a sequel to K-Pop Demon Hunters is in development, although no release date has yet been announced.
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