KPop Demon Hunters won two Oscars on Sunday night, taking home the prizes for best animated feature and best original song at the 98th Academy Awards.
KPop Demon Hunters, which was released on Netflix in June 2025, is an action fantasy-musical that follows a K-pop girl group, HUNTR/X, who lead a double life battling a rival band, the Saja Boys, who turn out to be demons.
The film, produced by Sony Animation, currently holds the record for the most-streamed film in Netflix history.
The film, directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, features a voice cast led by Teen Wolf’s Arden Cho and popular K-drama star Ahn Hyo Seop, along with May Hong and Yoo Ji Young. The supporting voice cast includes Kim Yun Jin, Daniel Dae Kim, Ken Jeong, and Squid Game’s Lee Byung Hun.
Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, who provide the singing voices for members of the HUNTR/X’s, performed the film’s breakout single “Golden” live during the ceremony.
The trio performed on a K-pop-style stage alongside a large dance ensemble while the audience waved glowing lightsticks.
“Growing up, people made fun of me for liking K-pop. But now everyone's singing our song and all the Korean lyrics, I'm so proud,” said a visibly emotional Ejae, as she collected the trophy for best original song.
“And I realised this award is not about success, it’s about resilience, and I’m just so grateful to our team.”
However, just as co-writer Yu Han Lee began to speak, the mic was cut off and the orchestra began to play.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the cut-off was met with audible boos from the audience in the theatre.
“Golden”, written by Ejae, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seon, and Teddy Park, became the first K-pop song ever to win in the category.
Earlier this year, it became the first-ever K-pop song to win at the Grammys and also picked up awards at the Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Awards.
It won over “I Lied to You” from Sinners, “Dear Me” from the documentary Diane Warren: Relentless, Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner’s title song from Train Dreams, and “Sweet Dreams of Joy” from Viva Verdi!
KPop Demon Hunters also won the Oscar for best animated feature, beating nominees including Zootopia 2, Arco, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, and Elio.
“Thank you to the Academy and to all the fans who got us here. For those of you who look like me, I’m so sorry that it took so long to see us in a movie like this, but it is here. That means the next generations don’t have to go longing,” said Kang. “This is for Korea and Koreans everywhere.”
This makes Kang and producer Michelle LM Wong the first female Asians as well as the first South Koreans to win in this category.
Prior to the Oscars, KPop Demon Hunters had won the best animated feature at the Golden Globe Awards and the Critics Choice Awards.
Last week, Netflix and Sony confirmed that a sequel had been greenlit with Kang and Appelhans returning to write and direct and write. It will likely be released in 2029.
Here’s how the most emotional Oscars in years unfolded backstage
Mr Nobody Against Putin wins the best documentary Oscar
2026 Oscars: The full list of winners
Oscars 2026 live updates: One Battle After Another wins Best Picture after huge night
Billy Crystal and Rachel McAdams deliver devastating In Memoriam segment at Oscars
Jimmy Kimmel mocks Donald Trump over Melania’s documentary at Oscars
