The 2026 Golden Globe Awards just changed everything for K-pop. KPop Demon Hunters didn’t just show up—it dominated. The Netflix and Sony Animation collaboration walked away with two of the night’s most prestigious trophies: Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for the viral anthem “Golden.”
This double win marks the moment Hallyu and Hollywood truly collided. By sweeping these categories, the film proved that K-pop’s influence isn’t just for the music charts anymore. It is now a powerhouse in the film industry’s most elite awards circuits. The project is being praised for bridging cultural gaps with high-octane animation and world-class production.
EJAE Breaks Barriers with “Golden”
Embed from Getty ImagesThe most emotional moment of the night belonged to singer-songwriter EJAE. She made history as the first Korean-American to win the Golden Globe for Best Original Song. Alongside co-writers Mark Sonnenblick and Lee Hee-joon, EJAE accepted the award after “Golden” beat out massive competition. They defeated tracks from Wicked: For Good and Avatar: Fire and Ash.
Reports from Marie Claire suggest this win has shocked the industry. It proves K-pop-inspired tracks have the narrative depth to compete with traditional musical theater and blockbuster scores. Now, the industry is finally taking notice of K-pop’s storytelling power.
From 10 Years of Rejection to Global Success
EJAE’s victory is deeply moving because of her past. Before her KPop Demon Hunters Golden Globe 2026 win, she spent 10 years struggling to debut as an idol in South Korea. She faced endless closed doors. But her acceptance speech, which is currently viral, showed exactly why she never stopped.
“Rejection is redirection, so never give up. It’s never too late to shine like you were born to be,” EJAE said, quoting her own lyrics.
That raw honesty turned “Golden” into more than just a movie track. It is now a global anthem for perseverance. Her speech even earned a standing ovation from the star-studded crowd, including presenters Charli XCX and Joe Keery.
Inside the Music of “KPop Demon Hunters”
- The Group: HUNTR/X, a fictional trio featuring Rumi, Mira, and Zoey.
- The Voices: Singing parts are performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI.
- The Cast: Lead voice roles are played by Arden Cho, May Hong, and Ji-young Yoo.
- The Music: This Netflix K-pop animated film soundtrack has already grabbed five Grammy nominations.
The Road to the 2026 Oscars
With the Globes finished, all eyes are on the Academy Awards. “Golden” has officially made the Oscar Original Song shortlist. The film is also eligible for major categories after a strategic limited theatrical run. Most analysts now name KPop Demon Hunters the frontrunner for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars.
Social media is currently exploding with the hashtag #RejectionIsRedirection. Fans are sharing their own stories of overcoming setbacks, inspired by EJAE’s journey. The film has already earned $1.6 billion globally, proving the “K-pop movies 2026” trend is just getting started. Still, the biggest question remains: will we see a live K-pop performance on the Oscar stage this year?
