The soundtrack ″Golden″ from the Netflix original animation ″K-Pop Demon Hunters″ has reached the top of Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart. Billboard announced the chart update on the 16th, revealing that ″Golden″ climbed one spot from the previous week, surpassing Alex Warren’s ″Ordinary.″ This marks ″Golden″ as the ninth K-pop-related song to achieve this milestone and the first by a female vocalist.

Prior to its success on the US charts, ″Golden″ also topped the UK’s Official Singles Chart on the 1st. This achievement comes about two months after the animation’s release on June 20th. The popularity of ″K-Pop Demon Hunters″ reflects a growing global appreciation for Korean culture across various genres. Observers anticipate that the works of Korean creators active internationally will garner even more attention in the future.

″K-Pop Demon Hunters″ features Huntrix, a K-pop girl group and exorcists who aim to win fans’ hearts through music, combat evil spirits, and complete the protective barrier known as ″Honmun.″ The storyline includes a confrontation with the five-member boy group Saja Boyz.

The song ″Golden,″ performed by Huntrix, represents the ultimate goal of ″Golden Honmun,″ illustrating the protagonists’ journey of overcoming past traumas and evolving into radiant beings. Its high-pitched, refreshing vocals align with the classic K-pop narrative. Pop music critic Kim Do-heon noted that ″Golden″ is not merely a K-pop song driven by fandom but follows the Billboard formula of a popular animation theme song that steadily climbs the charts, suggesting it will maintain its chart dominance for an extended period.

Despite being an American animation, ″K-Pop Demon Hunters″ authentically portrays the daily lives of a K-pop girl group, their performances, and their interactions with fans, alongside elements of Korean etiquette and food culture. Scenes such as members sharing ramen before a performance and engaging with fans during autograph sessions resonate with existing K-pop fans. Critic Ha Jae-geun praised the film for its detailed representation of K-pop culture, which appeals to enthusiasts while offering a fresh perspective to newcomers, contributing to its popularity.

This work illustrates a shift in global fans’ interests beyond K-pop music and performances to a broader appreciation of Korean culture. ″K-Pop Demon Hunters″ stands out by not only reflecting Korean culture but also connecting with local cultures in the English-speaking world. The narrative adheres to the conventions of the action hero genre, with the journey of Rumi, a ″diasporic figure″ depicted in ″Golden,″ aligning with the multicultural dynamics of the English-speaking world.

A significant factor in ″K-Pop Demon Hunters’″ success is the unique context of its creation. Produced by American company Sony Pictures, the film utilized local Korean-Canadian director Maggie Kang and collaborated with Korean animators and K-pop companies. The song ″Golden″ was composed by Lee Jae, a former SM Entertainment trainee, alongside Seoul-based rapper and singer-songwriter Ray Ami and New Jersey native Audrey Noona, all of whom are Korean-Americans. The composition involved Lee Jae and music producers Teddy and 24 from K-pop agency The Black Label.

″K-Pop Demon Hunters″ is viewed as a successful example of diaspora content, similar to ″Minari,″ which earned actress Youn Yuh-jung an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, and Apple TV+’s ″Pachinko Series.″ Critic Kim Do-heon remarked that ″K-Pop Demon Hunters″ exemplifies how K-pop can spark public interest when intertwined with external cultures, suggesting that future K-pop content may emerge without the involvement of Korean producers or through outsourcing.