KPop Demon Hunters' 'Golden' Wins Best Original Song Oscar

The song marks the first K-pop track to win the coveted award.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 2:09am

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The Netflix animated film KPop Demon Hunters made Oscar history on Sunday night, with its song "Golden" winning the award for Best Original Song. The win marks the first time a K-pop song has taken home the coveted statuette in that category. The songwriting team, which includes EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, faced stiff competition from other nominees like "Dear Me" from Diane Warren: Relentless and "I Lied to You" from Sinners.

Why it matters

The Best Original Song Oscar win for "Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters is a landmark achievement for the K-pop music genre, which has been gaining mainstream popularity worldwide in recent years. This victory helps validate K-pop's status as a global musical force and opens the door for more international recognition of the genre at major awards shows.

The details

KPop Demon Hunters, the Netflix animated sensation, features the voices of Arden Cho, May Hong and Ji-young Yoo as the members of the K-pop trio HUNTR/X. The film's "Golden" song, performed by the singing voices of the trio - EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami - has been a dominant force during this awards season, previously winning honors at the Critics' Choice Awards and Golden Globes.

  • KPop Demon Hunters was released on Netflix on June 20, 2025.
  • The 2026 Academy Awards ceremony took place on March 16, 2026.

The players

KPop Demon Hunters

A Netflix animated musical film about a K-pop singing trio called HUNTR/X and their demon hunting adventures.

EJAE

The co-writer of the Best Original Song winner "Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters, who also provided the singing voice for one of the HUNTR/X members in the film.

Michelle Wong

The producer of KPop Demon Hunters, which also won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film.

Maggie Kang

One of the directors of KPop Demon Hunters.

Chris Appelhans

One of the directors of KPop Demon Hunters.

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What they’re saying

“People made fun of me for liking K-pop and now everyone is singing our song.”

— EJAE

“When I was a little girl, I worked tirelessly for 10 years to fulfill one dream, to become a K-pop idol, and I was rejected and disappointed that my voice wasn't good enough. So, I leaned on songs and music to get through it. So now I'm here as a singer and a songwriter.”

— EJAE

What’s next

KPop Demon Hunters is expected to continue its awards season success, with the film and its music likely to be nominated for additional honors in the coming months.

The takeaway

The Oscar win for "Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters represents a major milestone for the K-pop genre, showcasing its growing global appeal and influence. This achievement could pave the way for more international recognition and accolades for K-pop artists and music in the years to come.