“KPop Demon Hunters” made history at the 2026 Academy Awards on Sunday, March 15, taking home Oscars for both Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. The win marks a significant milestone for South Korean creatives in the film industry and further cements the global popularity of K-pop culture.
Director Maggie Kang became the first filmmaker of South Korean descent to win in the Best Animated Feature category. Accepting the award, Kang reflected on the importance of representation, stating, “Thank you, thank you to the academy and to all the fans who got us here, and for those of you who look like me, I am so sorry that it took us so long to notice us in a movie like this. But it is here. And that means that the next generations don’t have to go longing. This is for Korea and for Koreans everywhere.”
The film’s hit track, “Golden,” also won the Oscar for Best Original Song. Several co-writers of the song are the first South Koreans to win in that category. EJAE, who voices the character of Rumi and co-wrote the song, accepted the trophy and shared an emotional message: “Growing up people made fun of me for liking K-pop but now everyone is singing our song and all the Korean lyrics. I’m so proud.”
Chris Appelhans, Kang’s co-director, encouraged aspiring artists, saying, “Music and stories have this power to connect us as humans across cultures and borders, so I just seek to take a moment to say to all the young filmmakers, artists, musicians in all corners of the globe, tell your story, sing in your voice. I promise you the world is waiting.”
The win for “KPop Demon Hunters” follows the film’s success on Netflix, where it has captivated audiences of all ages. The soundtrack has been a major hit, with “Golden” becoming the first K-pop song to win a Grammy. The Hollywood Reporter notes the film capped off the 2026 awards season with its two “Golden” prizes.
The celebration extended beyond the awards ceremony itself. According to the BBC, fans celebrated the win with light sticks – a staple of K-pop concerts – and traditional Korean attire, including hanbok, during a performance of “Golden” at the Oscars. Leonardo DiCaprio and Steven Spielberg were among the Hollywood A-listers seen waving the light sticks.
“KPop Demon Hunters” centers on a girl group, Huntr/x, who use their music to fight demons. The film’s success is also sparking interest in tourism to South Korea, with a growing number of fans wanting to experience the culture that inspired the film. Euronews reports that the film is fueling a new wave of cinematic tourism to Seoul.
Mark Sonnenblick discussed the creation of the award-winning song “Golden” in an exclusive interview, detailing the collaborative process behind the track. al-bayader.com has the full story.
