"KPop Demon Hunters" made history Sunday night at the 2026 Academy Awards, winning best animated feature while its hit track "Golden" also took home the Oscar for best original song.
The victories marked a milestone for South Korean creatives. Director Maggie Kang became the first filmmaker of South Korean descent to win in the best animated feature category, while several co-writers of "Golden" became the first South Koreans to win in the best original song category.
In her speech, Kang reflected on the long wait for Korean representation in a film like this while celebrating the milestone for future generations.
"Thank you, thank you to the academy and to all the fans who got us here, and for those of you who look like me, I am so sorry that it took us so long to see us in a movie like this," she said. "But it is here. And that means that the next generations don't have to go longing. This is for Korea and for Koreans everywhere."
Meanwhile, her co-director Chris Appelhans encouraged young creators around the world to share their own stories, saying audiences are ready to hear them.
"Music and stories have this power to connect us as humans across cultures and borders, so I just want to take a moment to say to all the young filmmakers, artists, musicians in all corners of the globe, tell your story, sing in your voice," he said. "I promise you the world is waiting."
The animated film, produced by Sony Pictures Animation and released by Netflix, has become a cultural phenomenon since its debut, emerging as the streamer's most-watched original animated film.
Its breakout song "Golden," performed by the fictional girl group HUNTR/X -- voiced by EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami -- has been one of the most celebrated tracks of the awards season. The song's co-writers include 24 (Jeong Hun-seol), Teddy (Teddy Park), IDO -- a production team whose members include Nam Hee-dong, Joong Gyu-kwak and Lee Yu-han -- and EJAE, who provides the singing voice for the character Rumi.
Before the Oscars, "Golden" had already earned major honors, including best original song at the Golden Globes and best song written for visual media at the Grammy Awards. The track also made history as the first K-pop song to win a Grammy and earned a nomination for song of the year.
Earlier this month, Netflix announced that "KPop Demon Hunters" would receive a sequel, with co-directors Kang and Appelhans returning to helm the follow-up.
The sequel will mark the first project under the pair's exclusive multiyear writing and directing deal across animation.
ABC News' Andrea Dresdale contributed to this article.
