Kpop Demon Hunters’ Golden Makes History With Oscar Win

Hollywood history was rewritten on Sunday night as Netflix’s animated powerhouse K-Pop Demon Hunters secured two massive victories at the 98th Academy Awards. Taking home the trophies for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for its breakout anthem Golden, the film cemented its pop-culture legacy. This landmark double win at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 15, 2026, officially made Golden the first-ever K-Pop song to win an Oscar, highlighting the rising global dominance of South Korean culture and storytelling.

The prestigious awards venue briefly transformed into a massive K-pop arena during the Sunday night ceremony. Hollywood actors and industry officials enthusiastically waved lightsticks as singers EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami delivered a captivating live performance of Golden. They were joined on stage by traditional Korean percussionists and dancers, mirroring the vibrant visuals of the animated hit. 

The emotional high point of the night came during the acceptance speeches. Korean Canadian filmmaker Maggie Kang, marking her first Oscar win alongside co-director Chris Appelhans and producer Michelle LM Wong, dedicated the Best Animated Feature award to South Korea and Koreans everywhere. "She expressed heartfelt relief that future generations will finally see themselves represented on screen without experiencing that same sense of yearning."

Singer EJAE, who contributed to the vocals, lyrics, and composition of Golden,echoed this sentiment through tears. Recalling how she was mocked for loving K-pop growing up, she emphasized that the award signifies profound resilience rather than simple commercial success, marveling at how the entire world is now singing their Korean lyrics, as per Korea Times. 

Defeating Heavyweights and Shattering Data Records

To claim the top animation prize, the action-fantasy film had to outshine other industry heavyweights like Disney’s Zootopia 2 and Pixar’s Elio, along with contenders Arco and Little Amelie or the Character of Rain. The track Golden similarly bested strong musical competitors from Diane Warren: Relentless, Sinners, Viva Verdi!, and Train Dreams.

The commercial and critical data behind the franchise's success is nothing short of staggering. K-Pop Demon Hunters swept the award season across various ceremonies, including the Golden Globes and Critics' Choice Awards. The empowerment anthem Golden also took home a Grammy for Best Song for Visual Media, another major first for the genre. 

The film's global impact is equally impressive; it is currently Netflix's most-viewed animated title of all time, pulling in over 500 million cumulative views since its release last year. 

The vibrant story, which follows fictional Huntr/x girl group members Rumi, Mira, and Zoey as they balance global superstardom with a secret life protecting the world from evil spirits like Gwi-Ma and the rival Saja Boys, has resonated far beyond the screen. The makers with high-energy music and visual spectacles like the protective "Honmoon" shields beautifully blended modern Seoul with traditional Korean mythology and shamanism. 

This rich cultural cross-collaboration has significantly boosted global tourism to South Korea, driving up visitor numbers to landmarks heavily featured in the movie, such as the National Museum of Korea. Fortunately for fans, the demon-slaying vocal trio isn't done yet. Netflix announced last Friday that a highly anticipated sequel has already been greenlit, ensuring an encore from the expanding Huntr/x universe. 

With directors Kang and Appelhans returning to helm the project, Kang expressed immense pride in the global resonance of the Korean-led story, promising fans that there is much more to the world they have built, and this is only the beginning.