When director Maggie Kang accepted the Oscar for “KPop Demon Hunters,” she acknowledged how long it took for Korean stories like this to reach Hollywood’s biggest stage.
“To all the fans who got us here and for all of those who look like me, I am sorry that it took us so long to see us in a movie like this,” Kang said in her acceptance speech. “This is for Korea and for Koreans everywhere.”
The animated film won best animated feature at the Academy Awards, while its song “Golden,” performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami as the fictional K-pop girl group Huntrix, became the first K-pop track to win the Oscar for best original song. Kang and producer Michelle Wong also became the first people of South Korean descent to win in the animated feature category, accepting the award alongside director Chris Appelhans.
The milestone comes amid the global rise of Korean popular culture. Over the past decade, K-pop groups have topped international charts and built massive global fan bases through their music and global tours.
That influence was seen in Chicago’s music scene last year, when TWICE became the first K-pop girl group to headline Lollapalooza. In recent years, the festival has hosted more K-pop acts than ever before, signaling Korean music’s expanding global reach.
In 2020, Bong Joon-ho’s film “Parasite” also made Oscars history as the first non-English-language film to win best picture.
For Korean and Asian American students at Columbia, the historic wins are resonating beyond the awards stage.
Nahyoung Hyun, president of Asian Alliance, said she wasn’t surprised when the film won.
“If anything, I would’ve been surprised if they didn’t win,” said Hyun, a senior film and television major. “Whether you like the movie or not, you have to admit it has made a huge cultural impact.”
Eunkyung Kim, president of the Korean Student Association, said she did not expect the film to win but was excited to see the milestone for K-pop.
“It surprised me in the best way,” said Kim, a senior music major. “I have always known that K-pop has been growing globally and making a huge cultural impact, but seeing it recognized at the Oscars really shows how far the genre has come”
Hyun said Kang’s acceptance speech also resonated with her because of the limited Asian representation she saw growing up.
“Growing up, the only positive Asian representation I had was ‘Mulan.’ Everything else was a sad, racist excuse for Asian representation,” she said. “While we still have a long way to go, I believe this win is a step in the right direction.
Kim said seeing Korean culture recognized at an event as global as the Oscars felt meaningful to her as someone who enjoys sharing her culture with others.
“Projects like ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ introduce many aspects of Korean culture to international audiences, especially younger viewers,” she said. “ It makes me feel proud and grateful to see so many people showing interest and appreciation for Korean culture.”
The moment also reflects a broader shift in how Asian stories are recognized in mainstream entertainment, said Arianne Batang, a 2023 Columbia film and television graduate who recently spoke on a panel at C3Expo about Asian representation in media and fandom.
“Seeing Asian creators recognized at something as prestige as the Oscars means everything to me,” Batang said. “It shows that Asian culture and Asian people aren’t too ‘foreign, weird or niche’ to have a seat at the table.”
The win may also reflect how the Academy is recognizing movies that resonate with younger audiences, according to Christiaan Heying, a first-year film and television major.
“I think it signifies an attempt from the Academy to award movies that are culturally relevant,” Heying said. “‘KPop Demon Hunters’ best animated feature win especially represents a win for the younger audience, an audience that the Academy desperately wants to pay attention to.”
Heying said the film’s performance and reception could also influence how studios approach future projects and what types of stories they prioritize.
“I think it shows studios what has power in the landscape of film these days,” Heying said.
“‘Kpop Demon Hunters’ show that Asian narratives, Asian people and Asian culture are amazing global hits,” Batang said. “Studios and producers shouldn’t have to be so apprehensive when green-lighting Asian stories.”
For Hyun, the moment also signals expanding opportunities for Asian filmmakers.
“As a Korean-American filmmaker, I’m excited for what the future holds for me,” Hyun said. “Oscar-winning films like ‘Parasite,’ ‘Minari’ and ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ are proof that film and animation should have no boundaries.”
Additional reporting by Marc Balbarin
Copy Edited by Samantha Mosquera
