K-pop song, ‘Golden’, makes history at the Oscars

A 'Golden' moment for a K-pop track at the Oscars.

The Academy Awards rarely intersect with the world of Korean pop music. This year, however, that boundary shifted decisively when “Golden,” from K-Pop Demon Hunters, won the Oscar for Best Original Song, becoming the first K-pop track to receive the honour.

At first glance, the pairing feels unusual. The Oscars have traditionally celebrated film music rooted in Broadway-style ballads, orchestral themes or singer-songwriter compositions. A contemporary Korean pop track emerging from an animated fantasy about idol-heroes is not the most predictable addition to that lineage. Yet the trajectory of “Golden” suggests how dramatically the global music landscape has changed.

Rei Ami, from left, EJAE, and Audrey Nuna perform ‘Golden’ from KPop Demon Hunters during the Oscars. | Photo Credit: AP

In KPop Demon Hunters, the song arrives at the emotional centre of the film. Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, the animated musical follows three globally adored idols who secretly defend the world from supernatural forces. Publicly, they perform as the chart-topping girl group Huntrix. Privately, they wage a battle against demons threatening humanity. The premise carries the heightened energy of pop spectacle, but it is also a story about responsibility, identity and the complicated relationship between artistes and their audiences.

“Golden” accompanies one of the film’s defining moments, when the characters confront both the weight of their secret mission and the expectations placed upon them as performers. Sung by EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, who provide the singing voices for the fictional trio, the track unfolds with a gradual build: restrained verses give way to a chorus that expands outward with cinematic scale. Its lyrics move fluidly between English and Korean, reflecting the linguistic hybridity that has become increasingly common with contemporary K-pop.

EJAE with the team behind the song. | Photo Credit: John Locher