OST “Golden” Tops Billboard and UK Charts Simultaneously, Writing a New Chapter in K-Pop History

“KPop Demon Hunters”的OST song “Golden” has conquered both of the world’s most prominent pop music charts at the same time. It became the first K-Pop track to reach number one on the UK’s Official Singles Chart since Psy’s “Gangnam Style,” and it also became the first K-Pop song to top the Billboard Hot 100 since BTS’s tracks. Notably, achieving number one on both charts simultaneously is a record unseen in K-Pop history. All nine original songs from the album made it onto the Billboard Hot 100, with three of them currently inside the top 10. Singer-songwriter EJAE spent over 10 years as a Trainee under SM Entertainment and has contributed to composing songs for top K-Pop artists such as Twice, Aespa, LE SSERAFIM, and Red Velvet. When “Golden” reached number one on Billboard’s main singles chart, the Hot 100, EJAE said he cried all day and revealed that the first person who came to mind was his younger self. He expressed great joy at being able to help realize the dreams of the 11-year-old Lee Jae he used to be. Having provided the voice for Rumi, a member of the girl group HUNTR/X in the drama, EJAE composed three theme songs in total—“Golden,” “Your Idol,” and “How It Was”—all of which appeared on Billboard charts. The reason “Golden” resonated with people around the world is that it carries K-Pop’s core message of “accepting and loving yourself.” The song features lyrics like “I’m not hiding anymore; I’m shining just as I was from birth,” appearing in a scene where the protagonist Rumi proudly sings while embracing her complex identity and weaknesses exactly as they are. According to a Billboard online survey, 49% of American K-Pop fans said, “K-Pop makes me want to become a better person,” and it is believed that this message of growth and hope deeply connected with global fans. The creators’ own experiences also contribute to this impact. Director Meggie Kang, who is Korean-Canadian, and singer-songwriter Ray Amei, who is Korean-American, incorporated their own experiences of overcoming identity confusion into the work, creating a message that represents minorities such as immigrants.