KPop Demon Hunters Wins 2 Oscars: Best Animated Feature & Best Original Song ‘Golden’
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History Was Made Last Night
On March 15, 2026, the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles fell silent — and then erupted. KPop Demon Hunters took home not one, but two Academy Awards at the 98th Oscars: Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Golden.” It was the moment millions of K-pop fans and Korean culture enthusiasts around the world had been waiting for.
Director Maggie Kang stepped up to the microphone, barely holding back tears, and delivered a speech that stopped time:
“For those of you who look like me — I’m so sorry that it took us so long to see us in a movie like this. But it is here. And that means that the next generations don’t have to go longing. This is for Korea, and for Koreans everywhere.”
— Maggie Kang, Co-Director, KPop Demon Hunters
Watch the official “Golden” performance at the 98th Oscars:
What KPop Demon Hunters Won — And Why It Matters
This wasn’t just a win for an animated film. It was a cultural watershed moment for the Korean Wave (Hallyu) that has been building for decades.
| Award | Category | Historic Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 Oscar | Best Animated Feature | First Korean-directed film to win in this category |
| 🏆 Oscar | Best Original Song — “Golden” | First K-pop song ever to win an Oscar |
| 🏆 Grammy | Best Song Written for Visual Media | First K-pop Grammy win in this category |
| 🏆 Golden Globe | Best Animated Feature + Best Original Song | Awards season sweep complete |
Maggie Kang and producer Michelle Wong became the first people of South Korean descent to ever win Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards. Backstage, Kang drew the inevitable comparison to another Korean milestone:
“One of the most emotional moments for me as a filmmaker is watching Director Bong Joon-ho win for Parasite. And the fact that we have won Best Animated Feature for a culturally Korean film — it just feels like we have both trophies now.”
— Maggie Kang, Press Room backstage at the 98th Oscars
“Golden” — The Song That Changed Everything
EJAE, the powerhouse vocalist behind HUNTR/X’s lead character Rumi, accepted the Best Original Song Oscar in tears — and her words hit just as hard as Kang’s:
“Growing up, people made fun of me for liking K-pop. Now everyone is singing our song, and in all of the Korean lyrics. I’m so proud. I realize this award is not about success. It’s about resilience.”
— EJAE, Best Original Song acceptance speech
“Golden” had already made history before Oscar night: it topped the Billboard Hot 100, became the first K-pop track to win a Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media, and drove the film’s soundtrack to become the highest-charting film soundtrack of 2025 on Spotify. But winning an Oscar for Best Original Song cements it as one of the defining songs of this generation.
How KPop Demon Hunters Became Netflix’s Biggest Movie Ever
When KPop Demon Hunters quietly debuted on Netflix in June 2025, few predicted what was coming. The animated film — produced with Sony Pictures Animation — tells the story of HUNTR/X, a girl group who secretly moonlight as demon hunters protecting the world through the power of their music.
- 500+ million views on Netflix in under 9 months — the most-watched Netflix film in history
- #1 box office in its theatrical opening weekend (Netflix’s first ever)
- Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers: “Golden,” “Your Idol,” “Soda Pop,” “How It’s Done”
- Halloween 2025: HUNTR/X and Saja Boys became the top costume trends globally
- Merch sellouts across South Korea, US, Japan, and Southeast Asia
The film arrived at exactly the right moment. Global interest in Korean culture — from K-beauty to K-drama to K-food — had been building for years. KPop Demon Hunters was the film that finally bridged the gap between hardcore Hallyu fans and mainstream Western audiences who had never engaged with Korean pop culture before.
What the Sequel Means for Korea Tourism
On March 12 — three days before Oscar night — Netflix officially confirmed a KPop Demon Hunters sequel, with Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans returning as directors under a new multi-year deal.
For travelers planning a Korea trip, this is massive news. The original film already sent search traffic for “Seoul filming locations,” “Korean cultural experiences,” and “K-pop tours in Seoul” through the roof. The sequel announcement — now amplified by two fresh Oscar wins — means that wave is just getting started.
If you’re planning to visit Seoul and want to experience the real-world locations that inspired KPop Demon Hunters, here’s where to go:
- COEX K-Pop Square — the “Golden” MV debut scene
- Seoul Olympic Stadium — the concert sequences
- Namsan Seoul Tower — the film’s iconic finale backdrop
- Bukchon Hanok Village — rooftop meeting scenes
- Myeongdong — the Saja Boys street performance
Ready to book your K-pop cultural experience in Seoul? Find tours, tickets, and activities below:
Why This Oscar Win Is Different From Parasite
When Parasite won Best Picture in 2020, it was a live-action adult drama — celebrated by critics but not necessarily a film that brought new audiences into Korean culture. KPop Demon Hunters is different in a crucial way: it’s a family film.
Those eight-year-olds trading HUNTR/X stickers at elementary schools in San Francisco today? They’ll be booking flights to Seoul in 2030. The cultural pipeline that KPop Demon Hunters has built — through animation, music, and merchandise — is generational in a way that Parasite, for all its brilliance, was not designed to be.
Yale professor Seol summarized it perfectly: “It’s not just the animation quality; the world is ready for this authentic storytelling, which feels fresh.”
Want to dive deeper into the world that inspired the film? Check out our complete guide: KPop Demon Hunters Cultural Experiences in Seoul.
FAQ
Did KPop Demon Hunters win at the 2026 Oscars?
Yes. KPop Demon Hunters won two Oscars at the 98th Academy Awards on March 15, 2026: Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Golden.”
Who directed KPop Demon Hunters?
The film was co-directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans. Kang and producer Michelle Wong made history as the first people of South Korean descent to win Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards.
Is a KPop Demon Hunters sequel confirmed?
Yes. Netflix officially confirmed a sequel on March 12, 2026. Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans will return as directors under a multi-year exclusive deal with Netflix. No release date has been announced.
Where can I watch KPop Demon Hunters?
KPop Demon Hunters is streaming exclusively on Netflix worldwide.
Can I visit KPop Demon Hunters filming locations in Seoul?
Yes. Key locations include COEX K-Pop Square, Seoul Olympic Stadium, Namsan Seoul Tower, Bukchon Hanok Village, and Myeongdong. Many tour operators now offer dedicated KPop Demon Hunters location tours.
The Wave Is Just Beginning
Two Oscars. Five hundred million views. A sequel in development. A generation of new K-pop fans who grew up watching HUNTR/X fight demons on screen.
KPop Demon Hunters is no longer just a movie. It’s the gateway through which the next wave of global Korean culture enthusiasm will flow — and Seoul is ready to receive them.
Are you planning a Seoul trip inspired by KPop Demon Hunters? Drop your questions in the comments — we’ll help you plan every stop.
