SEOUL — Netflix’s animation sensation “KPop Demon Hunters,” which captivated the world with its distinct Korean cultural elements, has expanded the reach of Korean culture on the global stage with its triumph at the Grammy Awards.
“Golden” from the film’s original soundtrack took home Best Song Written for Visual Media in a premiere ceremony of the 68th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday (U.S. time). It marks the first time that an original soundtrack from the K-pop genre has ever been nominated for or won at the Grammys.
The U.S. animated film acts as a cultural hybrid, seamlessly blending traditional Korean heritage with contemporary styles as it follows Huntr/x, a fictional girl group that battles evil spirits using the power of music. Set in Seoul, it showcases local landmarks and cultural elements, such as “hanbok,” traditional tiger and magpie characters, a traditional medicine clinic, vibrant Seoul streets and street food, which have caught global attention since its release.
The movie became the most-watched Netflix title of all time, surpassing 500 million total views in under six months after its release. Its success triggered a wave of cultural interest, from sold-out “sing-along” screenings in the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand, among other countries, to sold-out Halloween costumes inspired by its characters.
The movie’s influence extended well beyond streaming platforms. The National Museum of Korea has welcomed more than 6 million visitors this year, its highest annual total since opening 80 years ago, while sales of its official merchandise line, Mu:ds, surged on the back of the film’s popularity.
The film’s soundtrack also became a commercial phenomenon. “Golden,” performed by Korean American artists Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight non-consecutive weeks and led the British Official Singles Chart Top 100 for 10 nonconsecutive weeks. The soundtrack album reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.
In addition to “Golden,” other songs on the soundtrack, including “Takedown,” “Soda Pop,” “How It’s Done” and “What It Sounds Like,” also gained popularity, simultaneously dominating the Billboard’s main songs chart.
The soundtrack’s chart performance was widely viewed as evidence of K-pop’s growing footprint on the global stage, with several key industry figures involved in its creation. They include Teddy, a star producer known for his work with BIGBANG and BLACKPINK, alongside Kush, Vince, 24 and Ido — all composers from The Black Label. Ejae, who co-wrote and performed “Golden,” previously trained at South Korea’s powerhouse label SM Entertainment.
On Sunday, songwriters Ejae, Teddy, 24 and Ido — the latter three are producers at the South Korean music label The Black Label — were among those recognized as the official Grammy winners for “Golden.”
While South Korean recording engineer Hwang Byeong-joon and Korean American artist Yungin have won Grammys in the past, “Golden” represents the first time K-pop producers or songwriters have taken home the award.
“KPop Demon Hunters” also landed two Oscar nominations — Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Golden” — at next month’s Oscars in Los Angeles.
“The film shows how local tradition and global production can combine to create a cultural phenomenon,” Korean culture critic Jung Duk-hyun said. “It is a symbolic title that broadens the definition of K-content beyond works made solely with domestic capital.”
BY: The Times Union
