SEOUL, March 16 (AJP) -KPop Demon Hunters turned Hollywood’s biggest night on Sunday into a K-pop celebration, sweeping two trophies at the 98th Academy Awards — Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song — as the Netflix sensation outshone heavyweight Hollywood contenders including Zootopia 2.
Nearly a year after its global premiere, the animated hit — blending K-pop spectacle with Korean folklore and fantasy action — capped a remarkable awards-season run that has propelled it into one of the most culturally influential animated films in recent years.
“To all the fans who got us here, and for all of those who look like me, sorry that it took us so long to see ourselves in a movie like this,” Korean-Canadian director Maggie Kang said as she accepted the award alongside co-director Chris Appelhans and writer Michelle L.M. Wong.
“But it is here, and that means the next generations don’t have to go longing,” Kang added. “This is for Korea and for Koreans everywhere.”
Produced by Sony Pictures Animation and released globally by Netflix, the film premiered on June 20, 2025 and quickly became one of the platform’s most-watched titles.
The story follows fictional K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey, who secretly battle supernatural threats while maintaining their global pop-idol personas — a concept that merges K-pop performance culture with animated fantasy storytelling.
The film’s Oscar triumph capped a year-long wave of accolades, including major wins at the Golden Globe Awards, Critics Choice Awards and Grammy Awards.
The film also claimed the Best Original Song Oscar for “Golden,” a track that became a breakout hit from the film’s soundtrack.
Written by EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo and Teddy Park, the song was performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI.
“Growing up, people made fun of me for liking K-pop, but now everyone is singing our song,” singer-songwriter EJAE said in her acceptance speech.
“I realized this award isn’t really about success — it’s about resilience. I’m incredibly grateful to our team, the amazing cast, all the producers, and of course my mom and dad.”
Hanbok-themed performance lights up Oscars stage
The song also took center stage during the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, where EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI delivered a live performance of “Golden.”
The stage opened with performers dressed in traditional Korean hanbok, accompanied by narration that built anticipation before the singers emerged in white to perform the K-pop-infused number.
The performance blended synchronized choreography with Korean cultural imagery — bringing the film’s signature mix of K-pop aesthetics and folklore-inspired storytelling to the Oscars stage.
With Netflix already announcing plans for a sequel, the triumph of K-Pop Demon Hunters suggests the film’s global cultural impact may only be beginning.
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