Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters closed out awards season with a historic moment at the 98th Academy Awards, as the film’s breakout track Golden took home the Oscar for Best Original Song. The win marked a major milestone not just for the film, but for K-pop as a whole, signaling how far the genre has come on the global stage.
The night’s most electric moment came just before the award was announced, when artists EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami delivered a high-energy live performance of Golden. Even though the performance was brief, it transformed the Dolby Theatre into something closer to a K-pop arena, with audience members waving glowing light sticks and singing along to Korean lyrics.
Taking the stage to accept the award, EJAE delivered an emotional speech reflecting on her journey. She spoke about being teased growing up for loving K-pop and how surreal it felt to now see an entire crowd embracing the music. For her, the moment went beyond industry recognition and spoke to perseverance and cultural acceptance on a global scale.
The celebration, however, was cut short. As the group and their collaborators began speaking, the orchestra played them off the stage earlier than expected. Reports from inside the venue described an awkward and frustrating moment, with co-writer Mark Sonnenblick attempting to continue the speech after others had already exited, underscoring how abruptly the historic win was wrapped up.
The Oscar victory added to an already unprecedented run for Golden. The track previously became the first K-pop song to win a Grammy earlier this year and also swept major categories at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards. It climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making history as the first K-pop song led by female vocalists to achieve that milestone.
Beyond the music, KPop Demon Hunters has been a massive success for Netflix. The animated film has pulled in more than 500 million views globally, making it one of the platform’s most-watched titles in recent memory. Its continued presence on streaming charts highlights how its mix of music, storytelling, and cultural crossover has resonated with audiences worldwide.
With Golden, the creators behind the film not only delivered a chart-topping hit but also broke long-standing barriers in both music and film. The Oscar win cements its place as a defining moment for K-pop’s influence in Hollywood, even if the night itself ended on a slightly chaotic note.
