In a monumental night at the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 15, 2026, KPop Demon Hunters' girl group HUNTR/X – comprising AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI, and EJAE – delivered a captivating performance of their smash hit, “Golden.” The song, which had previously topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight consecutive weeks, then went on to achieve an unprecedented victory by winning the Oscar for Best Original Song. The performance itself was a highlight, with the stage in the Dolby Theater in Hollywood bathed in gold as NUNA, REI AMI, and EJAE emerged in striking all-white outfits, reportedly inspired by their characters' final performance in the film. As their voices resonated, the voice of film character Celine echoed, reminding the audience that “Our music unites the soul and brings people together,” a core message of HUNTR/X's purpose. The audience, including Hollywood luminaries like Gwyneth Paltrow, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Teyana Taylor, enthusiastically waved lightsticks, a nod to traditional K-pop performances.

The victory of “Golden” marked several historic firsts. It became the first K-pop song ever to win an Academy Award, a groundbreaking achievement for the genre. Furthermore, it set a record as the first song with more than four writers to win an Oscar, with a total of seven credited writers: EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu-Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Teddy Park. This also meant it was the first Best Song winner where not all writers would receive an individual trophy, due to the Motion Picture Academy's strict rule that typically limits statuettes in this category to no more than two, with a maximum of four in rare circumstances. For songs with five or more co-writers, such as “Golden,” writers must sign an agreement to share a single group statuette, though they are all recognized as Oscar winners.

During the acceptance speech, EJAE, speaking for the group of songwriters, conveyed a heartfelt message emphasizing the song's theme of “resilience.” Through tears, she shared, “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.” She thanked the Academy, her family, and the cast and crew of KPop Demon Hunters, including directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans and producer Michelle Wang. However, the emotional moment took an abrupt turn when co-writer Yu-Han Lee attempted to add his thanks, only for the music to loudly kick in, prematurely cutting off his speech as the ceremony went to commercial break.

Beyond the Oscars, “Golden” had already cemented its place in music history. On February 1, it made headlines by becoming the first K-pop song to win a Grammy Award, specifically for Best Song Written for Visual Media. The song also secured wins at the Critics Choice Awards and the Golden Globes, underlining its widespread critical acclaim. Additionally, KPop Demon Hunters further celebrated its success by winning the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film on the same night.

The impact of “Golden” extended beyond K-pop specific records. It became only the third song that spent eight or more weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 to win an Oscar for Best Original Song in over two decades, following