South Koreans Bask in Oscars Triumph for 'KPop Demon Hunters'
Wednesday, 2026/03/18163 words3 minutes259 reads
South Korean fans and media celebrated the success of "KPop Demon Hunters" after the film won two Oscars on Sunday. The fantasy film, which draws heavily on Korean mythology and features a K-pop soundtrack, won Academy Awards for best animated feature and best original song.
The film had already achieved massive global success, becoming the most-watched original film of all time on Netflix. It also won a Grammy for its lead track "Golden", marking the first Grammy win for a K-pop song.
South Koreans proudly described the film as another example of "K-syndrome" -- the global fascination with Korean culture, including movies, music, fashion, and food. Co-director Maggie Kang's emotional acceptance speech particularly resonated with Korean audiences. The Seoul-born filmmaker dedicated her awards to Korea, prompting calls for official recognition of her contribution.
Netflix has announced plans for a sequel, though no release date has been confirmed. The film's success represents a breakthrough moment for Korean animation and K-pop on the global stage.
