The songwriters behind KPop Demon Hunters experienced a classic Oscars moment when the orchestra cut them off during their acceptance speech at the 2026 Academy Awards—but they weren't silenced for long. The creative team behind the hit song "Golden" regrouped in the press room at the Dolby Theatre to deliver the heartfelt thanks they couldn't share on stage.
Composer Yu-Han Lee, whose on-stage remarks ended abruptly after just a few words, finally got to express his gratitude to loved ones and collaborators. "I would like to thank our families, and 24, and our fellow IDO members," he shared. "This is an incredible honor."
EJAE accepts Original Song award for 'KPop Demon Hunters' at the Oscars on March 15 in Hollywood. Kevin Winter/Getty
Co-composer Mark Sonnenblick also seized the opportunity to acknowledge everyone who contributed to their success. "My family, some of them here tonight, my husband has a booster tonight," he said. "Everybody who worked on this movie, all the animators, it was a real collaboration across the board."
He added a poignant reflection on the film's themes: "Part of the movie is about looking at someone that you had been taught to hate and to fear, and starting to trust, or maybe love them."
Kpop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey in 'KPop Demon Hunters'. Netflix
Sonnenblick extended his appreciation to the film's passionate fanbase and everyone involved in the soundtrack. "A movie is like a village," he concluded, "and we're lucky to be up here right now, but there's so many people who have made this what it is. So thank you!"
The award-winning team included songwriters Ejae, Joong Gyu Kwak, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Teddy Park alongside Lee and Sonnenblick. Ejae managed to deliver a complete speech during the broadcast, sharing a powerful message about resilience and cultural pride.
"Thank you to the Academy for this insane award," Ejae declared. "Growing up, people made fun of me for liking K-pop, but now everyone's singing our song and all the Korean lyrics. I'm so proud. And I realized, like the song, this award is not about success, it's about resilience."
Yuhan, EJAE, ZHUN, Mark Sonnenblick, NHD and 24 at the 2026 Academy Awards in Los Angeles on March 15, 2026. Kevin Winter/Getty
After thanking her family and the KPop Demon Hunters team, Ejae passed the microphone to Lee—who only managed to say "I would like to thank—" before the orchestra's music signaled their time was up.
The KPop Demon Hunters songwriters triumphed over competitors from Sinners, Train Dreams, Viva Verdi, and Diane Warren: Relentless to claim the Oscar. The film also secured Best Animated Feature, defeating contenders including Zootopia 2, Elio, Arco, and Little Amélie or the Character of Rain.
