Korean Singer Ejae Celebrates Academy Award Victory
South Korean vocalist Ejae, a key producer for the Netflix animated series ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters,’ captured a triumphant moment by posing with her Oscar trophy and the national flag following the 98th Academy Awards ceremony. This gesture symbolizes national pride after securing the Best Original Song award for ‘Golden.’
The event unfolded at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 15 local time, where Ejae joined Ray Amy and other collaborators onstage to accept the honor. Sources confirm this marks the first time a Korean individual or Korean American has received a major Oscar category win.
Team Triumph and Record-Breaking Nominations
‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ dominated the animation category with the most nominations and clinched two awards overall. The ‘Golden’ track, performed by the Heart Tricks boy group vocalists within the series, propelled Ejae, Nuna, and Ray Amy—all Korean Americans—to victory. Additional Korean talents like IDO, 24, and Tedi contributed to the soundtrack.
Images from the ceremony show director Kwak Jung-gyu, Mark Sonnenblick, Ejae (EJAE), Nam Hye-dong, and Lee Yu-han beaming with the award, underscoring the global impact of Korean cultural exports.
Emotional Backstage Moments and Fan Love
Post-ceremony, Ejae shared an Instagram post featuring the double encore photo, captioning it, “Love you guys so much.” In a backstage interview, she expressed profound emotion: “Korean music emerged in a joint nomination for the first time, and that pride is especially strong.”
She continued, “The Korean presence in America is small, yet through cultural bridges, we feel the true pride of being Korean. Korean identity now shines brightly.” Ejae also shed tears while noting, “People love the K-pop I create. But everyone consumes K-pop.” Adding, “This award transcends commercial success—it’s tied to humility.”
Milestone for Korean Talent on Global Stage
Analysis highlights this as a breakthrough, with Ejae overcoming vocal challenges from the Heart Tricks group. The win elevates Korean music and animation, fostering greater international recognition and inspiring future creators.
