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'KPop Demon Hunters' on the prowl for 'Golden' statue alongside 'Bugonia' at Oscars

Published: 11 Mar. 2026, 15:54 Updated: 11 Mar. 2026, 16:35

Stills from ″Kpop Demon Hunters″ (2025), left, and ″Bugonia″ (2025) [NETFLIX, CJ ENM]

K-pop's biggest hit film "KPop Demon Hunters” (2025) will take over the Oscars on Sunday, with its "Golden" (2025) singers performing the hit soundtrack and the film vying for two awards.

Netflix’s animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” and its lead track, “Golden” have been nominated for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song, respectively.

The film follows three K-pop idols who are singers by day and demon hunters by night. Released in June 2025, the film broke Netflix’s record for the most-streamed movie of all time by August of the same year, according to Netflix.

EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, the singing voices behind the film's main trio, will perform the lead track at the awards ceremony.

Singers Audrey Nuna, EJAE and ReiAmi perform during the annual Pre-Grammy Gala, in Beverly Hills, California, on Jan. 31. [REUTERS]

Another Korea-inspired film, “Bugonia” (2025), also earned multiple nominations for the upcoming Academy Awards.

The dark comedy film is an English remake of the Korean film "Save the Green Planet!" (2003) by Jang Joon-hwan.

The film received four nominations: Best Picture, Best Actress (Emma Stone), Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score.

Starring Emma Stone, the film follows two men who kidnap a CEO whom they believe is an alien planning to destroy the Earth.

The film is directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, a Greek film director whose work includes “Poor Things” (2023).

From left to right, Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos, and U.S. actors Emma Stone, Aidan Delbis, and Jesse Plemons arrive for the premiere of ″Bugonia″ during the 82nd annual Venice International Film Festival, in Venice, Italy, on Aug. 28. [EPA/YONHAP]

The English remake has been co-developed by CJ ENM in partnership with major Hollywood studios.

The 98th Academy Awards will take place in the Dolby Theater, Los Angeles, on Sunday. The ceremony will be broadcast live on OCN and Disney+ in Korea on Monday at 8 a.m.

BY LEE JI-WON [[email protected]]