(2nd LD) 'KPop Demon Hunters' wins best animated film, best song at Golden Globes

▲ In this Reuters photo, Maggie Kang (C) lifts up her Golden Globe trophy at the 83rd annual Golden Globes held at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on Jan. 11, 2026. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ A scene from "KPop Demon Hunters" is seen in this image provided by Netflix. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ Audrey Nuna (L), Ejae (C) and Rei Ami are seen at the 83rd annual Golden Globes held at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on Jan. 11, 2026, in this AFP photo. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ This image, provided by Netflix, shows a scene from "Kpop Demon Hunters." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(2nd LD) animated film-award

(2nd LD) 'KPop Demon Hunters' wins best animated film, best song at Golden Globes

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By Woo Jae-yeon

SEOUL, Jan. 12 (Yonhap) -- Netflix's hit animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" clinched two prizes at the Golden Globes, taking home best animated feature and best original song.

Directed by Korean Canadian filmmaker Maggie Kang, "KPop Demon Hunters" was awarded Best Motion Picture, Animated, at the 83rd annual Golden Globes held Sunday (U.S. time) at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, in addition to Best Original Song, Motion Picture, for its lead track, "Golden."

Produced by Sony Pictures Animation, the film centers on Huntr/x, who live a double life, balancing their music careers with their duties as warriors who protect the world from demonic spirits, like the overlord Gwi-Ma and the soul-stealing Saja Boys.

Released on June 20 last year, it became an instant hit and the streaming giant's most-watched movie of all time. Capitalizing on its immense popularity, a theatrical singalong version of the film was released for a limited time in many countries, including the United States, Australia and Britain.

"Thank you to the Golden Globes and for everyone who believed that a movie that is so deeply rooted in Korean culture could resonate with a global audience," Maggie Kang, the movie's co-director, said in her acceptance speech.

"Through this film, we really wanted to depict female characters the way that we know women, which is really strong and bold, really silly and weird, and really hungry for food, and sometimes a little thirsty," she added.

Ejae, the Korean American singer-songwriter of "Golden," recalled her trainee years when she worked hard "tirelessly" to become a K-pop idol.

"I was rejected and disappointed that my voice wasn't good enough, and so I leaned on songs and music to get through it," she said in a trembling voice. "It is a dream come true to be part of a song that is helping other girls, other boys and everyone of all ages to get through their hardship and to accept themselves."

"This award goes to people who've had their doors closed at them, and that I can confidently say rejection is redirection," she said, adding, "Never give up, and you know, it's never too late to shine like you were born to be."

The victory at the Golden Globes, which follows similar success at the Critics Choice Awards earlier this month, where the film claimed both categories, heightens the possibility of more awards in the coming Hollywood awards season.

Meanwhile, Park Chan-wook's "No Other Choice" did not win an award. The dark comedy thriller had been nominated in three categories -- Musical or Comedy Motion Picture, Actor in a Musical or Comedy Film and Foreign Language Film.

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