South Korea celebrates K-pop’s ‘Golden’ historic Grammy win
South Korea is celebrating a landmark achievement in the world of music. “Golden,” a song featured in the Netflix animated film “KPop Demon Hunters,” has won a Grammy Award for best song for visual media. This marks the first Grammy win for a K-pop song, a milestone many believe signals growing acceptance of the genre in the American mainstream.
A Night of Visibility for K-Pop
The Grammy win capped a significant night for K-pop representation. Rosé, of the globally successful girl group Blackpink, performed alongside Grammy favorite Bruno Mars, delivering their hit song “APT.” the newly formed girl group Katseye, a collaboration between South Korea’s HYBE and U.S. Label Geffen Records, received two nominations, including best new artist, for their song “Gabriela.”
The Rise of a Global Phenomenon
The awards come as K-pop continues its surge as a youth-driven global phenomenon. The genre is attracting increasing attention from the U.S. Film and music industries, as U.S. Studios seek ways to connect with younger audiences. Music critic Lim Hee-yun noted that K-pop’s strength on social media and short-form platforms has driven these collaborations.
While the Grammy win for “Golden” could strengthen K-pop’s foothold in the American market and improve its prospects at future awards, debate exists regarding whether the song truly qualifies as K-pop. “Golden” is an English-language pop song from a Sony Pictures Animation film.
Cultural Impact in South Korea
Despite the debate, the win sparked joy in South Korea. The film “KPop Demon Hunters” inspired themed products, like ramen, and boosted tourism to cultural sites in Seoul featured in the film. Kim Na-young, a 50-year-old resident, expressed her excitement, stating, “Sony made it, Netflix released it, but the film was definitely about Korea.”
The film, released last June, follows the fictional girl group HUNTR/X as they combine music and martial arts to protect the human world from demons. The singers behind HUNTR/X – Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami – have gained significant followings as a result.
The songwriters of “Golden” acknowledged the song’s bilingual appeal during their acceptance speech at the Grammys’ Premiere Ceremony, delivering remarks in both English and Korean.
A Moment for South Korean Culture
Some South Koreans view the Grammy win as the latest milestone in the rise of South Korean pop culture, following the 2020 Oscar win for Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite.” Park Jeong-eon, 48, recalled a time when South Korea was less known internationally, stating, “When Parasite won, it felt like South Korean culture had entered the global mainstream. The Grammy win takes that recognition even further.”
Seo Ga-yeon, a K-pop student, highlighted the emotional resonance of Ejae’s performance, noting her journey as a K-pop trainee in South Korea before finding success in the United States. She believes Ejae’s “outstanding vocal performance—overflowing with emotion” contributed to the song’s success.
South Korea’s governing Democratic Party hailed the Grammy win as a historic moment, signifying that K-pop had “finally overcome the long-standing Grammy barrier.”
While the Recording Academy has historically overlooked major K-pop acts like BTS, some analysts question whether “Golden” should be considered K-pop’s first Grammy win. Jinmo Lim, a music critic, suggested the win represents growing international appeal rather than a victory for the genre itself. Lim Hee-yun noted that “Golden” sounds more like American pop, potentially broadening its audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is “KPop Demon Hunters”?
“KPop Demon Hunters” is a Netflix animated film released last June that follows the three members of the fictional Korean girl group HUNTR/X as they use their music and martial arts skills to fight demons.
Who performed with Bruno Mars at the Grammys?
Rosé, from the girl group Blackpink, joined Bruno Mars on stage to perform their song “APT.”
Which K-pop group received two Grammy nominations?
Katseye, a girl group launched by a partnership between HYBE and Geffen Records, earned two nominations, including best new artist, for their song “Gabriela.”
As K-pop continues to gain global recognition, what other collaborations and innovations might we see emerge from this dynamic music scene?