Story perspectives

KPop Demon Hunters Triumph at Oscars, Celebrating Korean Culture

3/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

KPop Demon Hunters won Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for "Golden" at the 2026 Oscars.
Maggie Kang, the film's co-director, thanked recognition for Korean culture, saying, "This is for Korea and for Koreans everywhere."
The live performance of "Golden" featured traditional Korean elements and light sticks, which sparked discussions about the global impact of K-pop.
Co-writer Yu Han Lee was cut off mid-speech, prompting boos from the crowd.

History

Historical Context

The Korean Wave, or Hallyu, surged globally after Psy's "Gangnam Style" was released on July 15, 2012, becoming the first YouTube video to reach one billion views by December 21, 2012. This cultural phenomenon led to a 20% increase in South Korea's cultural exports and paved the way for further global recognition of K-pop, exemplified by the recent Oscars win for KPop Demon Hunters.

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Story summary

KPop Demon Hunters won Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for "Golden" at the 2026 Oscars.
Maggie Kang, the film's co-director, thanked recognition for Korean culture, saying, "This is for Korea and for Koreans everywhere."
The live performance of "Golden" featured traditional Korean elements and light sticks, which sparked discussions about the global impact of K-pop.
Co-writer Yu Han Lee was cut off mid-speech, prompting boos from the crowd.

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