‘Historic moment’ for K-pop: EJAE celebrates first Grammy win

A long-standing barrier finally cracked at the 68th annual Grammy Awards as “Golden,” a song from the animated feature “KPop Demon Hunters,” secured the award for Best Song Written for Visual Media.

The win marked a historic first as not only did the track become the first K-pop song to claim a Grammy in the category, it also made EJAE the first K-pop artist to ever win a Grammy Award.

Performed by EJAE alongside Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, “Golden” serves as the musical centerpiece for HUNTR/X, the fictional K-pop group featured in the film.

The team from KPop Demon Hunters react in the audience to winning the award for best song written for visual media for “Golden” during the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

While “KPop Demon Hunters” entered the ceremony with four nominations, including a nod in the highly competitive Song of the Year category, “Golden’s” victory quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the event.

 

 

 

 

 

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Historic moment and ‘long overdue’

For years, K-pop’s presence at the Grammys has been more symbolic. BTS previously made history as the first K-pop act nominated by the Recording Academy in 2021 and has since earned five nominations, yet a win remained elusive.

“It’s a historic moment,” Ejae said later on the red carpet, noting how deeply personal the win was for her as a Korean American artist.

Speaking with Good Morning America, EJAE, Nuna and Rei Ami reflected on what the recognition meant beyond the trophy itself.

Nuna described the win as both timely and overdue, saying, “It’s perfect timing. It’s also long overdue at the same time, and we’re just so proud to be part of a team that’s proud to represent our culture, represent people who are from different places and just anyone who’s been [outcast] and to represent this music and film.”

Behind the song is a collaborative songwriting team composed of Ejae, Park Hong Jun, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Se  and Mark Sonnenblick.

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