Netflix’s “K-pop Demon Hunters” Dominates Grammys, Oscars, and Golden Globes—Writing a New Chapter in K-pop History

Netflix’s animated film “K-pop Demon Hunters” has swept major Hollywood international award ceremonies, solidifying K-pop culture’s global prominence. Featuring both Korean traditions and the world of modern K-pop idols, the film achieved over 500 million Netflix views since its release in June of last year, making it one of the most successful streaming titles in history.

At the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, “K-pop Demon Hunters” won two awards, including Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. Its OST “Golden” caused a sensation by topping the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for a total of 8 weeks and reaching the summit of both Billboard and the UK Singles Chart. Its global cultural impact was so significant that the cast of “K-pop Demon Hunters” was ranked sixth on Billboard’s 2025 list of “Top 10 Pop Stars.”

The Academy Awards also recognized the film’s success. At the 98th Academy Awards, “K-pop Demon Hunters” made it to the final nominees list for Best Animated Feature, competing alongside acclaimed works from Disney and Pixar. Notably, the nomination of “Golden” for Best Original Song marked the first time in 98 years of the Academy Awards that K-pop music was shortlisted for a main award category. The Academy Awards ceremony will be held on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, USA.

The 68th Grammy Awards also show strong expectations for “K-pop Demon Hunters” to achieve outstanding results. “Golden” is competing for a total of five awards, including three main categories: Song of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, and Best Song Written for Visual Media. In addition, it is also up for the Golden David Geta Remix award and a special compilation OST award for “K-pop Demon Hunters.” The ceremony is scheduled to take place on February 1 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, USA.

Music experts believe “Golden” has a high chance of winning the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance award, thanks to its dominance on Billboard. Music critic Im Hee-yoon analyzed, “As the influence of traditional charts like Billboard declines, the Grammy selection committee is showing a tendency to reflect current trends. ‘Golden’ and ‘Apartment’ are songs that have resonated with younger audiences and proven their longevity on charts, giving them an advantage.”

These successes at international award shows demonstrate that Korean culture is no longer a regional phenomenon but has firmly established itself as part of global mainstream culture. The action-fantasy narrative, which features K-pop superstars secretly protecting the world, combined with English dubbing by Korean actors such as Ahn Hyo-seop and Lee Byung-hun, has earned worldwide acclaim. Regardless of whether it wins awards, this achievement proves that K-culture has confidently taken its place at the center of the international stage.