History was made at the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday as “Golden” from the Netflix animated film KPop Demon Hunters secured the first-ever Grammy win for a K-pop act.
The groundbreaking track won Best Song Written for Visual Media during the Premiere Ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. According to multiple sources, the songwriters delivered their acceptance speech in both English and Korean, highlighting the song’s bilingual appeal and cultural significance.
The win represents a watershed moment for Korean pop music on the global stage. Meanwhile, the song had already been nominated for the prestigious Song of the Year category, competing against industry heavyweights like Kendrick Lamar and Lady Gaga.
“Golden” was crafted by an impressive roster of talent including EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, 24, Ido, and Teddy Park. EJAE, a former K-pop trainee turned songwriter and producer, spoke emotionally about the nomination process. Sources report she said during an earlier interview that she was “not able to digest this time,” adding “I’m still in shock.”
The track is performed by HUNTR/X, consisting of EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, who provide the singing voices for the film’s fictional girl group. Rei Ami was visibly tearful following the nominations announcement, admitting she “hadn’t stopped crying,” saying it “feels out of this world.”
Audrey Nuna emphasized the importance of representation in an earlier statement. She noted that “you’re going to see three Korean faces,” adding that thinking “about the kids who are going to see that, and hopefully for that to shape their understanding of what they can do in this world, is the stuff that is giving me chills.”
The Grammy win follows a string of accolades for “Golden.” The song previously won the Critics’ Choice Award and Golden Globe for Best Original Song. Additionally, it earned an Academy Award nomination in the same category, with a scheduled performance at the upcoming 98th Academy Awards in March.
Since its release, “Golden” has demonstrated remarkable commercial success. The track reached number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Global 200. Sources indicate it sat atop the Hot 100 for eight consecutive weeks from mid-August through mid-October.
The film itself became Netflix’s most-watched movie of all time following its June 2025 release. The streaming giant took the unusual step of bringing a sing-along version to theaters for special fan events. During its first theatrical run, KPop Demon Hunters topped the box office with approximately $18 million over two days.
Beyond the win for Best Song Written for Visual Media, the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack received a total of five Grammy nominations. The complete album earned a nomination for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media, while a David Guetta remix of “Golden” was nominated for Best Remixed Recording.
The historic Grammy win solidifies K-pop’s expanding influence in Western music markets. This achievement arrives alongside ROSÉ’s “APT.” collaboration with Bruno Mars, which also received Song of the Year and Record of the Year nominations, marking another first for K-pop artists in these major categories.
For EJAE, the journey has been particularly poignant. At the Golden Globes ceremony earlier this month, she shared that she “worked tirelessly for 10 years to fill one dream, to become a Kpop idol,” but was “rejected, and disappointed that my voice isn’t good enough.”
She dedicated the Golden Globe award “to people who have their doors closed at them,” confidently stating that “rejection is redirection,” urging others to “never give up.”
