‘Kpop Demon Hunters’ nabs Best Original Song Oscar, second honor at this year’s awards

Rei Ami, left, EJAE, center, and Audrey Nuna perform ″Golden″ (2025) from ″KPop Demon Hunters″ (2025) during the Oscars on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. [AP/YONHAP]

Animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” (2025) added another accolade to its already decorated awards collection, winning the Best Original Song Oscar for “Golden” (2025) along with becoming the most watched original film in Netflix history.

The film also won Best Animated Feature at the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday, underscoring its commercial success and growing cultural impact.

Other nominees released last year for Best Original Song were “Dear Me” from “Diane Warren: Relentless” (2024), “I Lied To You” from “Sinners” (2025), “Train Dreams” from “Train Dreams” (2025) and “Sweet Dreams of Joy” from “Viva Verdi!” (2024).

“KPop Demon Hunters” follows fictional girl group HUNTR/X, whose members double as demon hunters as they face off against their rival boy band, the Saja Boys.

“Growing up, people made fun of me for liking K-pop, but now everyone is singing our songs and all the Korean lyrics,” said singer EJAE, who voices a member of HUNTR/X and performed during the ceremony. “I’m so proud and I realize that the song this award is about not about success but it’s about resilience.”

“And I’m just so grateful to our team, and I just want to thank my mom, my dad, my brother, my manager for staying with me and I also want to thank, of course, the resilient cast of ‘KPop Demon Hunters.'”

Rei Ami, left, EJAE, center, and Audrey Nuna perform ″Golden″ (2025) from ″KPop Demon Hunters″ (2025) during the Oscars on March 15, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. [AP/YONHAP]

EJAE cheers in the audience after ″KPop Demon Hunters″ (2025) wins the award for best animated feature film during the Oscars on March 15, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. [AP/YONHAP]

Maggie Kang, from left, Chris Appelhans, and Michelle L.M. Wong, winners of the award for animated feature film for Netflix’s ″KPop Demon Hunters,″ pose in the press room at the Oscars on March 15, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. [AP/YONHAP]