Golden wins K-pop's first Grammy, prompting questions about a breakthrough.

'Golden,' from Netflix's Kpop Demon Hunters and performed by virtual band Huntr/x, won the Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media, the first Grammy win for Korean songwriters and producers. The result has been described as a milestone by some, while others and some scholars have questioned whether the English-language, animation-linked song fits traditional definitions of K-pop.

'Golden,' performed by virtual girl band Huntr/x in Netflix's film Kpop Demon Hunters, won the Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media in Los Angeles. The award went to the songwriters EJAE, Park Hong Jun, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Seo Jeong Hoon (known as 24) and Mark Sonnenblick, and is the first Grammy win for Korean songwriters or producers. Audrey Nuna, who voices a member of Huntr/x, said the win felt "miraculous" and "destined," and Seo Jeong Hoon paid tribute to mentor Park Hong Jun, known as Teddy. The result follows increasing Grammy attention to K-pop and K-pop-adjacent work in recent years. Key facts: - "Golden" won the Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media. - The credited songwriters include EJAE, Park Hong Jun, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Seo Jeong Hoon (24) and Mark Sonnenblick. - This is the first Grammy win for any Korean songwriters or producers. - The track appears in the Netflix film Kpop Demon Hunters and is associated with the virtual group Huntr/x; Audrey Nuna provided a member's singing voice. - In 2026, K-pop or K-pop-adjacent artists received nominations across five Grammy categories, but only "Golden" took a prize. - Performances during the broadcast included Rosé of Blackpink with Bruno Mars and multinational group KATSEYE, both of which were nominated but did not win. Summary: The Grammy win for "Golden" marks a first for Korean songwriters and producers and highlights the genre's expanded presence at mainstream awards. Some fans and scholars have questioned whether the song, released in English and tied to an English-language animation, aligns with conventional definitions of K-pop. Undetermined at this time.