The Academy Awards just witnessed a seismic shift in music history. “Golden”, the breakout anthem from the Netflix animated sensation KPop Demon Hunters, secured the Oscar for Best Original Song. This victory marks the first time a K-pop track has ever won—or even been nominated—in this prestigious category. The songwriting powerhouse team, including EJAE, Teddy Park, Mark Sonnenblick, 24, and Ido, took the stage to accept the honor, cementing the genre’s permanent place in global cinema.
A Historic Night for KPop Demon Hunters
The win for “Golden” served as the second trophy of the night for KPop Demon Hunters, which also triumphed in the Best Animated Film category. The film follows a fictional K-pop girl group (voiced by Huntr/x members EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami) who balance world tours with demon hunting.
While the film has already shattered records as Netflix’s most-watched movie of all time, this Academy Award validates its musical impact. The official video and soundtrack dominated the charts in 2025, but seeing Korean lyrics celebrated on the Oscar stage felt like a cultural turning point.
Resilience Over Success: EJAE’s Emotional Speech
The atmosphere inside the Dolby Theatre turned electric when Lionel Richie announced the winner. During the acceptance speech, EJAE struggled to hold back tears as she addressed the crowd.
“Growing up, people made fun of me for liking K-pop,” she remarked. “Now everyone is singing our song, including the Korean lyrics. This award is not about success; it’s about resilience.”
The win comes at the expense of veteran songwriter Diane Warren, whose song “Dear Me” (performed by Kesha) failed to break her 17-nomination losing streak. “Golden” also beat out heavy hitters like Nick Cave and the duo of Raphael Saadiq and Ludwig Göransson.
Ludwig Göransson Dominates Best Original Score
While K-pop owned the song category, the Best Original Score Oscar went to Ludwig Göransson for his haunting, blues-infused work on Ryan Coogler’s Sinners. This marks Göransson’s third Academy Award, following his previous wins for Black Panther and Oppenheimer. During his speech, he credited his father for introducing him to the guitar, the very instrument that led him to collaborate with Coogler on this “vampire-gangster-musical” masterpiece.
With KPop Demon Hunters and Sinners leading the musical charge, the 2026 Oscars proved that the Academy is finally tuning into the diverse, genre-bending sounds of the modern era.
| Category | Winner | Film | Key Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Original Song | “Golden” (EJAE, Teddy Park, et al.) | KPop Demon Hunters | First K-pop song to win an Oscar |
| Best Original Score | Ludwig Göransson | Sinners | Göransson’s 3rd Academy Award win |
| Best Animated Film | Maggie Kang & Chris Appelhans | KPop Demon Hunters | Netflix’s most-watched film of all time |