The upcoming 98th Academy Awards is adding a dose of K-pop spectacle to its ceremony. According to Variety, the producers behind the show have planned a special segment honoring the global success of “KPop Demon Hunters,” the Netflix animated hit whose music became as talked about as its story.
The tribute will feature the singers behind the film’s fictional girl group performing its Oscar nominated anthem “Golden” live on the Dolby Theatre stage.
A K-Pop Fantasy Comes to the Oscars Stage
Executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan confirmed that the sequence will celebrate the picture’s Korean cultural influences before the music even begins. The segment is expected to open with traditional Korean instrumentalists accompanied by dancers, setting the tone for a performance that connects the film’s mythology and folklore with its modern pop energy.
Once the stage is set, the spotlight will shift to the vocalists who brought the movie’s breakout group to life. EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, the singing voices behind the fictional trio HUNTR/X, will perform “Golden,” the soaring track nominated for Best Original Song.
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The performance also reflects how unusually successful the film’s music became outside the movie itself. “Golden” turned into a major streaming hit and helped push the soundtrack into rare territory for an animated production, with multiple songs charting simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100. The fictional groups from the picture even found themselves competing with real world K-pop acts on global streaming charts.
Released on Netflix in 2025, “KPop Demon Hunters” combined fantasy action with the world of idol pop. Directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans, the title follows a chart topping girl group who secretly fight demons while protecting humanity. Its blend of mythology, high energy music and glossy animation helped it become one of the platform’s biggest hits and sparked development on a sequel.
