Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” Sets New Record by Becoming Grammy and Oscar Nominee, Shaping History of K-Content Adaptations

Netflix’s animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” has achieved historic milestones in the visual media industry. The film’s theme song, “Golden,” won the “Best Song Written for Visual Media” award at the 2026 Grammy Awards, marking the first time a K-pop song has received a Grammy nomination.

EJAE, who composed and performed “Golden,” said in her acceptance speech, “This is insane. As a Korean American, it feels like a historic moment. It is also a song that represents Korea.” “Golden” had previously won the Golden Globe Award and the Critics’ Choice Award, and it is now nominated for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards.

The film tells the story of a fictional female superstar group, HUNTR/X (featuring Rumi, Joy, and Mira), who use energetic music to protect humanity from evil demons. The characters are voiced by EJAE, Audrey Nuuna, and Lay Aimi. The trio will perform “Golden” for the first time outside the United States at the BAFTA Film Awards held in London on February 22.

EJAE composed several tracks for the “KPop Demon Hunters” soundtrack and was involved beyond “Golden.” She has previously written songs for various artists including aespa, Red Velvet, LE SSERAFIM, TWICE, Taeyeon, NMIXX, and FIFTY FIFTY. In an interview with Rolling Stone, EJAE explained, “I was going through a tough time when I wrote ‘Golden,’ and I actually cried while singing the demo because the song resonated deeply with me.” She added, “Maybe that’s why ‘Golden’ says ‘Ollala.’ Everyone is going through difficult times and wants to feel hope.”

“KPop Demon Hunters” has surpassed 300 million views on Netflix, and its theme song “Golden” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2026 Oscar predictions, multiple expert panels selected “KPop Demon Hunters” as the top candidate for Best Animated Feature. Film critic Robert Daniels of Roger Ebert praised it by saying, “No category has ever been as clearly defined as it is for animated films. ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ will win a gold award on Oscar night.”

The film’s success demonstrates the expansion of Hallyu’s influence. According to the “2025 Global Hallyu Trend Analysis Report,” which analyzed approximately 1.5 million articles from foreign media outlets in 30 countries between October 2024 and September 2025, “KPop Demon Hunters” accounted for 15.9% of all key terms related to K-films. The integration of Korean elements such as spirits, goblins, kimbap, and ramen into the plot was identified as a key factor behind its popularity. The film’s impact extended to tourism and consumer sectors, including an increase in foreign visitors to the National Museum of Korea and a surge in bookings for K-culture experience programs.