SEOUL — The song "Golden" from the animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" made history today by becoming the first K-pop song to win a Grammy Award.
The track won the Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media. This category honors music created for movies, TV shows, and video games. The win was announced Monday during the Grammy Premiere Ceremony, an event held before the main awards broadcast.
Korean-American artist Ejae, who co-wrote and sang "Golden," delivered an acceptance speech in both English and Korean. Ejae said that speaking both languages showed how the song bridges the two cultures.
Record-Breaking Viewership
The film "KPop Demon Hunters," produced by Sony Pictures Animation, has also set a record as the most-watched release in Netflix history. The movie follows a fictional girl group named HUNTR/X whose members use music and martial arts to battle demons. Artists Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami provide the voices for the group.
The global popularity of the film has helped boost tourism to Seoul. In the United States, characters from the movie have even become popular choices for Halloween costumes.
Political leaders in Seoul celebrated the achievement, calling it a historic breakthrough. South Korea’s Democratic Party issued a statement saying the award proves K-pop is overcoming language and cultural barriers. The party noted that the music's popularity around the world continues to grow.
K-Pop at the Grammys
Other artists with ties to the genre were also featured during the ceremony. Rosé of the group Blackpink joined American pop star Bruno Mars on stage to perform their collaboration "APT." The song was a nominee for Song of the Year.
The girl group Katseye also received two nominations. This included a nomination for Best New Artist following the success of their song "Gabriela." South Korean entertainment giant HYBE and the U.S. record label Geffen Records teamed up to create the group.
While the victory for "Golden" is a major milestone, some experts are debating whether the track should be labeled as K-pop. This is because the song is performed in English and comes from a film produced in the United States. Despite the debate, the win marks a major shift in how the Grammys recognize the genre.
