KPop Demon Hunters anthem 'Golden' hits No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 chart
by Korea JoongAng Daily
A scene from the Netflix animated film ″KPop Demon Hunters″ [NETFLIX]
“Golden,” the original soundtrack single from Netflix’s animated film “KPop Demon Hunters,” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the ninth K-pop song to top the chart and the first performed by female vocalists.Billboard announced on Monday that “Golden,” which is sung by the fictional girl group HUNTR/X in the animated film, rose one spot from last week to dethrone Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” and climb to the top of its Hot 100 list.
The track’s seven-week climb began with a debut at No. 81 in early July, followed by a steady ascent from the 23rd spot to the much-coveted top position. It also topped the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart earlier this month, making it one of the rare songs to conquer both major Western charts.
During the latest chart tracking week, “Golden” logged 31.7 million U.S. streams, up 9 percent from the previous week, along with 8.4 million radio airplay impressions and 7,000 sales.
Billboard noted that while several K-pop acts have reached No. 1 before — most notably BTS, with six songs, and members Jimin and Jungkook with one each — “Golden” is the first K-pop track fronted by women to achieve the feat.
In the “KPop Demon Hunters” storyline, HUNTR/X is a fictional act, but its real-world vocals come from Korean American artists EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami. EJAE and Ami were born in Seoul, while Audrey Nuna hails from New Jersey. The song, written by former SM Entertainment trainee EJAE, has been praised for its addictive melody and soaring high notes, quickly becoming one of the year’s biggest K-pop hits.
Its high-note section has turned into a viral challenge — dubbed the “Golden Challenge” — with established stars, such as Bada of S.E.S., Lee Hae-ri of Davichi, Solar of Mamamoo, Lily of NMIXX, An Yu-jin of IVE, Ailee and Kwon Jin-ah posting their own renditions. In a summer largely devoid of standout K-pop anthems, “Golden” has filled the gap with a sound that is both cinematic and undeniably catchy.
Reference Written by LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr] Provided by Korea JoongAng Daily
※ Picks respects the rights of all copyright holders. If you do wish to make material edits, you will need to run them by the copyright holder for approval.
more from
KoreaJoongAngDaily
KoreaJoongAngDaily
First panda twins born in Korea share final moments with mother before independence journey begins
2025-08-13 00:00:00
KoreaJoongAngDaily
Animal wrangler behind Aeyongyi's purrfect turn on screen in 'Zombie' lets the cat out of the bag
2025-08-11 00:00:00
KoreaJoongAngDaily
Seoul Plaza to host exhibits commemorating 80 years of liberation
2025-08-10 00:00:00
KoreaJoongAngDaily
This virus has a 50% chance of killing you — and ticks that carry it are running wild
2025-08-09 00:00:00
BEST STORIES
The Conversation
The world's longest marine heat wave upended ocean life across the Pacific
2025-08-10 00:00:00
AFP
France to rule on controversial bee-killing pesticide bill
2025-08-10 00:00:00
Knowable Magazine
Uncovering the impact of artisanal fisheries
2025-08-10 00:00:00
Inven Global
Red Bull Home Ground Returns to New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom This November
2025-08-10 00:00:00
Entertainment
KoreaJoongAngDaily
Come for music, stay for the cosmology: The Korean folk symbols and beliefs of 'KPop Demon Hunters'
2025-08-06 00:00:00
KoreaJoongAngDaily
Seoul Grand Park introduces special summer meals for animals to combat extreme heat
2025-08-03 00:00:00
KoreaJoongAngDaily
How Netflix's 'KPop Demon Hunters' brings Seoul's vibrancy and rich flavors to life
2025-07-26 00:00:00
KoreaJoongAngDaily
What to know on where to go: Seoul's public pools along Han have something for everyone
A scene from the Netflix animated film ″KPop Demon Hunters″ [NETFLIX]
