From Kpop Reject to Golden Globe Winner: EJAE's Inspiring Journey

EJAE, a Korean-American singer-songwriter, made history at the 2026 Golden Globes by becoming the first person of Korean descent to win an award. Her victory for "Golden, " a song from the Netflix film "KPop Demon Hunters, " marked a significant turnaround from her earlier struggles in the Kpop industry. Born Kim Eun-jae, EJAE spent nearly a decade training at SM Entertainment, starting at just 11 years old. Despite her hard work, she was never selected to debut in any group or pursue a solo career. This rejection led her to move to the United States, where she enrolled at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Instead of giving up on music, EJAE shifted her focus to songwriting. Her breakthrough came in 2019 when she co-wrote "Psycho" for Red Velvet. This success opened doors for her to work with other popular Kpop groups like aespa, TWICE, LE SSERAFIM, and NMIXX. EJAE's journey took an exciting turn when she was cast as the singing voice for the character Rumi in "KPop Demon Hunters. " Her demos played a crucial role in getting the film greenlit. The song "Golden" from the film became a global hit, spending eight weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and making history as the first female Kpop single to top the chart.At the Golden Globes, EJAE delivered an emotional acceptance speech, thanking the academy for accepting her voice and encouraging others to accept themselves. She also shared a powerful message about rejection being a form of redirection, urging everyone to never give up on their dreams. "KPop Demon Hunters" has become Netflix's most-watched film, with over 325 million views. The film's soundtrack also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, making it the biggest-selling soundtrack of 2025. EJAE's historic win at the Golden Globes follows the film's success at the Critics Choice Awards, where it won both Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song. For EJAE, this win represents a profound moment of vindication. She has spoken openly about her struggles in the Kpop industry and how she once resented it. However, her journey from rejection to success serves as an inspiration to many, proving that sometimes the path to success is not straightforward.