‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Stars Shine With Triumphant ‘Golden’ Oscars Performance

The Oscars stage came alive with a dynamic performance of "Golden," the hit song from the Netflix animated feature "KPop Demon Hunters." Delivered by the vocal trio EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami—who portray the in-film group Huntr/x—the number fused traditional Korean musical elements with modern pop production. A narrator introduced the segment by highlighting music's unifying force, after which the artists appeared on a staircase before moving through the audience, which waved glowing orbs. The performance, while seemingly abbreviated, culminated in a striking visual as the singers struck a pose with backup dancers holding flags, a nod to the cultural folklore that inspires the movie.

This high-profile showcase concludes an awards season where "Golden" has been virtually unstoppable. The track previously made Grammy history by becoming the first K-pop song to win Best Song Written for Visual Media. Many industry observers believed it was a frontrunner for the Oscar for Best Original Song, a victory that would have marked another major first for the genre. The songwriting credits include EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, IDO, 24, and producer Teddy Park, a pivotal figure in K-pop's global rise. Park, known for shaping the sound of the record-breaking girl group BLACKPINK, brought his hit-making expertise to the project. "Golden" first entered the Billboard Hot 100 in June 2025 and went on to spend five non-consecutive weeks at the chart's summit, setting a new record for the longest run at number one by a song from an animated film.

The trio's intense promotional tour reflects a concerted industry strategy to solidify K-pop's place in the Western mainstream. After a series of Grammy Week appearances, including the prestigious Clive Davis pre-Gala, they also performed at both the BAFTA Film Awards and the BRIT Awards last month. This cross-platform blitz is a deliberate attempt by major labels to capitalize on the song's broad appeal and challenge the conventional boundaries of major award shows. The strategic push mirrors efforts seen with previous crossover phenomena, suggesting a blueprint for integrating global music genres into established Western entertainment institutions.

In a recent interview, Rei Ami described the group's journey as "vindicating," noting they initially faced considerable skepticism within the industry. "We were repeatedly told our concept wouldn't translate or that we didn't fit a predefined mold," she revealed. Their eventual breakthrough, highlighted by these landmark performances, points to a tangible shift in the international music industry. As cultural critic Dr. Lena Cho noted, "The success of 'Golden' represents more than a chart achievement. It's a signal that award committees are expanding their artistic criteria, finally recognizing the sophisticated production and massive cultural impact of music originating outside the traditional Anglo-American pop sphere." This evolution suggests a more inclusive future for global sounds in high-profile recognition.