The 98th Academy Awards saw a cultural milestone when EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami performed “Golden” from Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters. For the first time, every attendee was given K-pop lightsticks, turning the Dolby Theatre into a glowing sea of gold. Stars like Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael B. Jordan, and Emma Stone waved their lights in sync with traditional Korean percussionists and hanbok-clad dancers.
“Golden” Wins Big
By the end of the night, KPop Demon Hunters secured two Oscars: Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. “Golden” became the first K-pop track ever to win an Academy Award, capping a record-breaking run that included eight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and over 3 billion global streams.
EJAE’s Emotional Journey
For EJAE, who co-wrote and voiced protagonist Rumi, the win was deeply personal. “Growing up, people made fun of me for liking K-pop. But now everyone’s singing our song and all the Korean lyrics,” she said tearfully. Her journey from SM Entertainment trainee to Oscar winner highlighted resilience after years of rejection in the industry.
From Trainee to Trailblazer
EJAE trained at SM Entertainment for 12 years but never debuted. Her husky vocal tone was once considered a flaw, yet it became the defining sound of “Golden.” After moving to New York and studying at NYU, she built a career in songwriting, penning hits for Red Velvet, aespa, and TWICE before landing her breakthrough role in KPop Demon Hunters.
Animated Feature Victory
Co-director Maggie Kang delivered an emotional speech after winning Best Animated Feature: “For those of you who look like me, I’m so sorry it took us so long to see us in a movie like this. This is for Korea and for Koreans everywhere.” The film beat Disney’s Zootopia 2 and Pixar’s Elio, solidifying Netflix’s dominance in animation.
A Cultural Shift
The Oscars performance and wins marked a turning point in how global audiences embrace K-pop and Korean culture. By blending folklore, music, and animation, KPop Demon Hunters introduced millions to the artistry of K-pop, proving its place on the world’s biggest stage.
