The song “Golden” from the animated film KPop Demon Hunters made history at the 2026 Academy Awards. The track won Best Original Song at the 98th Oscars on March 15. The victory marks a major milestone for K-pop in global cinema.
With this award, “Golden” became the first K-pop song to win an Oscar. The track also set another record. It is the first Best Original Song winner with more than four credited writers.
Seven songwriters created the track: EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu-Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Teddy Park. Because of Academy rules, not every writer will receive an individual Oscar statue. This makes the win unique in the category’s history.
Singer and songwriter EJAE spoke on behalf of the team during the ceremony. She also performs as one of the singing voices of the fictional girl group HUNTR/X in the film, alongside AUDREY NUNA and REI AMI.
During her speech, EJAE reflected on her personal journey and the global rise of K-pop. She explained that the award represents resilience, not just success. EJAE also thanked her family, collaborators, and the creative team behind the film, including directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, producer Michelle Wang, as well as Netflix and Sony Animation.
The emotional moment ended unexpectedly. After EJAE finished speaking, co-writer Yu-Han Lee stepped forward to add his thanks. However, the ceremony music started playing almost immediately. The broadcast then moved to a commercial break before he could finish his speech.
Despite the abrupt ending, the win for “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters marks a major moment for global music. It highlights the growing influence of K-pop in film, pop culture, and international entertainment.
