The Netflix animated film K-pop Demon Hunters (abbreviated Kedehun) OST "Golden (GOLDEN)" drew attention from foreign media after becoming the first K-pop work to receive a Grammy Award trophy.
On the 1st (local time) at a pre-ceremony event for the 68th Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles, U.S., the Kedehun OST "Golden" was selected as the winner in the best song written for visual media institutional sector. Accordingly, the composers of "Golden," Lee Jae, Teddy, 24, and IDIO (Iyoo, Kwak Jung-gyu, Nam Hee-dong) shared in the joy of the award.
In particular, "Golden" drew attention from foreign media as the first K-pop win since the Grammy Awards began in 1959. The Associated Press reported, "K-pop Demon Hunters' 'Golden' won in the best song written for visual media institutional sector, marking the first Grammy win for K-pop artists. The composers delivered their acceptance remarks in both English and Korean, emphasizing the song's bilingual appeal," it reported.
The New York Times (NYT) also reported, "The hit from K-pop Demon Hunters won in the best song written for visual media institutional sector, finally quenching the long-standing thirst for a global genre with powerful influence. K-pop Demon Hunters was the most powerful global cultural content of 2025 and the highest-rated work in Netflix history. Now this work has set the record as the first Grammy award in K-pop history," it said.
The NYT in particular saw a high chance that "Golden" could sweep at the main ceremony. "'Golden' remains in contention for song of the year, and it could become the first K-pop song to take one of the ceremony's top honors," it said. The NYT also noted, "K-pop's presence at the Grammys has been minimal in the past. Bangtan Sonyeondan (BTS) has been nominated five times so far but has never won," it pinched.
Hollywood entertainment outlet Variety also said, "K-pop Demon Hunters' 'Golden' has become the first K-pop song to win a Grammy," and emphasized that "Golden" is a strong contender for best original song at the Academy Awards to be held in March.
In addition to the pre-ceremony award, "Golden" was nominated in five institutional sector categories at the main ceremony, including one of the top honors, song of the year, best remixed recording for a remix version, best compilation soundtrack for visual media, and best pop duo/group performance. However, best pop duo/group performance went to Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande for "Defying Gravity," the soundtrack from the musical film Wicked.
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