K-pop’s First Grammy Win Marks a Historic Milestone for “Golden”

“The Golden” soundtrack from Netflix’s animated film *KPOP Demon Hunters* was named the winner of the “Best Song Written for Visual Media” category at the 68th Grammy Awards, establishing a new milestone in K-pop history. On the 1st (local time), during a pre-Grammy event held in Los Angeles, USA, the composers of “Golden,” including EJAE, Teddy, 24, and Idio (Lee Yu-han, Kwak Jung-kyu, Nam Hee-dong), received the Grammy trophy. This marks the first time a K-pop composer or music producer has won a Grammy Award.

“The Golden” also drew attention for its chart performance, which demonstrated the film’s global success. As the first K-pop track to top both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Official Singles Chart Top 100, the soundtrack album also reached number one on the Billboard 200. At the time of the Grammy ceremony, it remained at fourth place on the Hot 100, sustaining 32 consecutive weeks on the chart.

“The Golden” is also eligible for an additional award by competing in a major Grammy category: “Song of the Year.” This could make it the first K-pop song to claim one of the Grammy Awards’ most prestigious categories. In the past, BTS has been nominated five times for Grammys but has never won, although music engineer Hwang Byung-joon and Korean-American singer Youngin have received awards in music technology categories.

The night of the Grammy Awards was filled with the presence of K-pop artists. BLACKPINK’s Rosé performed on the opening stage of the main Grammy ceremony alongside global pop star Bruno Mars, becoming the first K-pop singer to achieve this honor. The two sang a reimagined hard rock version of their collaboration track “Apartment,” which was also nominated for “Song of the Year” and “Record of the Year.” HYBE’s global girl group KATSEYE also made a presence by participating in the rookie award nominee relay stage with their song “Gabriella.”

*KPOP Demon Hunters* is a global hit that blends Korean tradition with modern elements. Set in Seoul, this animation masterfully combines K-pop idols, evil spirits, and shamanism to create a unique narrative. It has achieved one of Netflix’s highest viewership rates ever, surpassing 480 million views. The film sparked a frenzy in the U.S. during the Halloween season, leading to a significant increase in foreign tourists visiting locations featured in the movie, such as Seoul’s Hanyang Doseong fortress.

“The Golden”’s Grammy win is not the end of its accolades. The film is nominated in two categories at the Academy Awards (Oscars) to be held in March: Best Animated Feature and Song of the Year, with “Golden” considered a strong contender for the latter award. Additionally, *KPOP Demon Hunters* as a whole is nominated in five categories at this Grammy ceremony, including “Golden.”