By Shim Sun-ah
SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) — Netflix’s animated sensation, “KPop Demon Hunters,” has amplified Korean culture’s global influence, clinching a Grammy Award and captivating audiences worldwide with its unique blend of K-Pop and Korean heritage. Explore the cultural phenomenon that’s taking the world by storm!
“Golden,” the hit song from the film’s original soundtrack, won Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 68th Grammy Awards premiere ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday (U.S. time). This historic win marks the first Grammy nomination and victory for an original K-pop soundtrack, solidifying K-pop’s position on the global music stage.
This U.S. animated film is a cultural masterpiece, seamlessly weaving traditional Korean heritage with modern K-pop aesthetics. “KPop Demon Hunters” follows Huntr/x, a fictional girl group based in Seoul, that battles evil spirits using the power of music. The movie showcases iconic Seoul landmarks and embraces Korean cultural elements like “hanbok” (traditional Korean clothing), traditional tiger and magpie characters, traditional medicine clinics, and the dynamic atmosphere of Seoul streets and street food. Its release has sparked global interest in Korean culture.
This photo provided by Netflix shows a scene from “KPop Demon Hunters.” (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Becoming the most-watched Netflix title in history, “KPop Demon Hunters” surpassed 500 million views in under six months. This remarkable success ignited a global wave of interest in Korean culture, with sold-out “sing-along” screenings held across the United States, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. Halloween costumes inspired by the film’s characters also sold out rapidly, proving its cultural impact.
The movie’s influence reaches far beyond streaming platforms. The National Museum of Korea reported over 6 million visitors this year, the highest annual total in 80 years, driven by the film’s popularity. Sales of the official merchandise line, Mu:ds, also surged due to the movie’s success.
The film’s soundtrack is a global phenomenon. “Golden,” performed by Korean American artists Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, dominated the Billboard Hot 100 for eight non-consecutive weeks and topped the British Official Singles Chart Top 100 for ten nonconsecutive weeks. The soundtrack album also achieved No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, showcasing the widespread appeal of K-pop infused music.
This Reuters photo shows songwriters of “Golden” from the “KPop Demon Hunters” soundtrack, who won Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 68th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 1, 2026. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
In addition to “Golden,” other songs on the soundtrack, including “Takedown,” “Soda Pop,” “How It’s Done,” and “What It Sounds Like,” also enjoyed significant popularity, making waves on Billboard’s main songs chart.
The soundtrack’s chart success demonstrates K-pop’s expanding global presence, fueled by key industry figures. These include Teddy, a star producer renowned for his work with BIGBANG and BLACKPINK, alongside Kush, Vince, 24, and Ido – all talented composers from The Black Label. Ejae, co-writer and performer of “Golden,” previously trained at South Korea’s powerhouse label, SM Entertainment.
Songwriters Ejae, Teddy, 24, and Ido – the latter three are producers at The Black Label — were recognized as the official Grammy winners for “Golden” on Sunday, marking a milestone for K-pop music creators.
Korean American artists Rei Ami (L), Ejae and Audrey Nuna, who performed “Golden” from Netflix’s animation sensation “KPop Demon Hunters,” are seen in this photo from the Associated Press. (Yonhap)
While South Korean recording engineer Hwang Byeong-joon and Korean American artist Yungin have previously won Grammys, “Golden” represents the first time K-pop producers and songwriters have received this prestigious award.
“KPop Demon Hunters” has also secured two Oscar nominations – Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Golden” – at the upcoming Oscars in Los Angeles. Prepare for another potential win for this incredible film!
“The film demonstrates how local tradition and global production can combine to create a phenomenal cultural impact,” according to Korean culture critic Jung Duk-hyun. “This symbolic title expands the definition of K-content beyond works solely made with domestic resources.”
sshim@yna.co.kr
(END)
