K-Pop Demon Hunters Sweeps Oscars With Historic Double Win

The 98th Academy Awards delivered a defining moment for Korean pop culture on Sunday night when K-Pop Demon Hunters walked away with two of the evening's most coveted prizes — Best Animated Feature Film and Best Original Song for "Golden." The Netflix phenomenon's double win marked the first time a K-pop song has ever claimed an Oscar, capping off an awards season sweep that has redefined what animated storytelling and Korean cultural exports can achieve on the global stage.

Directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, along with producer Michelle Wong, made history as the first female Asian winners in the Best Animated Feature category. They also became the first individuals of South Korean descent to win in the category, beating out competition from titles including Diane Never Dies, Dream of the Train, Viva Verdi!, and Sinners.

A Night That Turned the Dolby Theatre Into a K-Pop Concert

Perhaps the evening's most viral moment came during the live performance of "Golden." The trio of EJAE, Rei Ami, and Audrey Nuna — who voice the fictional K-pop group Huntr/x in the film — took the Dolby Theatre stage for a performance that blurred the line between Hollywood gala and K-pop concert. The set opened with the film's haunting "Hunter's Mantra," with performers dressed in traditional Korean hanbok acting out the opening sequence alongside pansori singers and namsadang traditional performers.

As the beat dropped into "Golden," the audience was handed glowing lightsticks — a staple of K-pop concerts worldwide. What followed was an image that instantly went viral: Leonardo DiCaprio and Emma Stone, among other A-list Hollywood stars, enthusiastically waving the colorful sticks in rhythm with the performance. The scene was broadcast live on OCN in South Korea, where viewers watched in disbelief as the Dolby Theatre transformed into something resembling a K-pop arena.

The moment captured the essence of what makes K-Pop Demon Hunters so special — its ability to bridge traditional Korean artistry with contemporary pop culture in a way that resonates across borders and generations.

EJAE's Tearful Speech and a Song That Made History

When EJAE, the 24-year-old composer and singer behind "Golden," took the podium to accept the Best Original Song award, the emotion was palpable. Fighting back tears, EJAE reflected on a deeply personal journey that brought the entire room to its feet.

"When I was young, people teased me for liking K-pop," EJAE shared with the audience, voice trembling. The composer also thanked a fiancee, adding another layer of emotion to an already unforgettable evening. The songwriting team — which includes EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Kwak Jungkyu, Lee Yuhan, Nam Heedong, Seo Jeonghun, and Teddy Park — became the first South Koreans to win in the Best Original Song category.

"Golden" had already been making history long before Oscar night. The track debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 2025 and spent five non-consecutive weeks at the number one position, making it the longest-leading hit on the chart by an animated act. In February 2026, it became the first K-pop song to win a Grammy, adding to its growing list of unprecedented achievements.

An Awards Season Unlike Any Other

The Oscar double win was the culmination of a remarkable awards season run. K-Pop Demon Hunters had already claimed Best Animated Film at the Golden Globes, the Critics' Choice Awards, and the PGA Awards, while also taking home a staggering 10 Annie Awards. "Golden" separately won the Original Song category at both the Golden Globes and the Critics' Choice Awards, making its Oscar win feel less like a surprise and more like an inevitable coronation.

The film itself tells the story of Rumi, Mira, and Zoey — three young-adult pop stars in a group called Huntr/x who discover they are descended from ancient demon slayers. Voiced by Arden Cho, May Hong, and Ji-young Yoo respectively, the characters must balance their K-pop careers with battling supernatural threats in a visually stunning world that draws heavily from Korean mythology and modern Seoul.

The storytelling's seamless fusion of Korean folklore — including traditional art motifs, hanbok fashion, and references to historic landmarks — with the high-energy world of contemporary K-pop struck a chord with audiences worldwide. The film's depiction of Namsan Seoul Tower has reportedly driven increased tourism from international visitors eager to see the real-life locations featured in the animation.

Cultural Impact Beyond the Screen

The ripple effects of K-Pop Demon Hunters extend far beyond streaming numbers and trophy cases. The National Museum of Korea reported that a character-inspired badge based on the film's iconic magpie tiger — drawn from traditional Korean minhwa folk painting — has sold approximately 90,000 units, becoming one of the museum's best-selling merchandise items under its "Mutz" brand.

Actor Ahn Hyo-seop, who voices the character Jinwoo in the film, attended his first-ever Academy Awards ceremony, marking a milestone in his decade-long career. The Korean-Canadian actor's presence on the red carpet added another dimension to the celebration, connecting the world of Korean live-action entertainment with the animated film's success.

The ceremony itself was dominated by One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, which claimed seven awards including Best Picture. Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor for Sinners — a film that earned a record-setting 16 nominations — while Jessie Buckley took home Best Actress for Hamnet. But it was K-Pop Demon Hunters that captured the cultural conversation, proving that Korean storytelling has firmly established itself as a permanent force in global entertainment.

What Comes Next

Netflix has already announced a sequel to K-Pop Demon Hunters, with Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans set to return as directors and writers. The follow-up is reportedly targeting a 2029 release, giving the creative team ample time to build on the foundation of what has become a cultural phenomenon.

For the broader K-culture ecosystem, the double Oscar win represents a significant expansion of Korean creative influence. While Bong Joon-ho's Parasite broke through the live-action barrier at the Oscars in 2020, K-Pop Demon Hunters has now done the same for animation — and brought K-pop music along for the ride. The image of Hollywood's biggest stars waving lightsticks may prove to be more than just a viral moment; it could be a signal that K-pop's integration into mainstream Western entertainment has reached a point of no return.

As EJAE said through tears on that Oscar stage, the world has come a long way from teasing people for loving K-pop. Now, it seems, even the Oscars cannot resist its pull.