Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” OST “Golden” Makes Oscar Best Original Song Shortlist

“Golden,” the main original soundtrack for Netflix’s animated film “KPop Demon Hunters,” has been included in the shortlist for the Best Original Song category at the 98th Academy Awards, as announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). According to the shortlist released on the 17th in Korean time, “Golden” was selected as one of 15 preliminary candidates for the award. A total of 65 songs submitted this year for this category, with only the top 15 making it to the shortlist. This list serves as the first round of selection before the official nominees are announced and is considered a crucial threshold for advancing to the final stage. “Golden” is an original track based on K-pop sounds and functions as the core theme song that runs through the fictional group’s universe and narrative in the film. EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI contributed to the vocals, while K-pop production team members such as TEDDY, 24, and IDO collaborated with Hollywood composers to enhance its quality. The song will now compete for a spot among the final nominees alongside theme songs from major Hollywood franchise films like “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “Wicked: For Good,” “Tron: Ascension,” and “F1 The Movie.” It is unprecedented for an K-pop-based animated film OST to reach the Oscar Best Original Song shortlist, and this achievement is seen as evidence of the expanding potential of K-content in the global film music market. Meanwhile, Bong Joon-ho’s film “Parasite” was also selected for the Best International Feature Film shortlist on the same day, indicating that Korean films are progressing well in their Oscar campaigns. The five final nominees for the Academy Awards Best Original Song category will be announced on January 22 next year after additional reviews and voting by Academy members. The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will take place on March 15 next year at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, USA.