Here's Why 'KPop Demon Hunters' EJAE Isn't Focused on the Netflix Sequel

EJAE may be an overnight sensation thanks to lending her singing and songwriting talent to one of Netflix's highest-streamed films of all time, KPop Demon Hunters, but the truth is that the talented musician has been in the industry much longer than that. Her career, which began when she was just 11 years old, saw EJAE (real name Kim Eun-jae) train diligently for 10 years as a K-pop idol at SM Entertainment.

Although her idol dreams never materialized, she never gave up and continued to pursue other avenues in the music industry. And that is when KPop Demon Hunters, the animated musical series about a demon-fighting three-member KPop girl group named Huntr/x, came in and propelled her into stardom. The film has not only gained worldwide popularity for its unique theme, but its soundtrack has also received global praise and recognition.

The film's song "Golden" not only broke several Billboard records but also reached over a billion streams on Spotify. If that weren't enough, the 3-minute and 20-second track, which incorporates a powerful message of embracing one's true identity, has been dominating the award shows this season, with its singer and songwriter EJAE accepting the award for Best Original Song and Motion Picture at this year's Golden Globes. The accolades don't stop there, as Golden scored four Grammy nominations, including Song of the Year, as well as Best Original Song at the Academy Awards. EJAE's rise to fame is only getting started, and in our conversation with her, we discussed a wide range of topics related to her incredible musical journey as well as some exciting new career ventures.

EJAE on the Future of K-Pop Following Historic Golden Globe Win

"K-pop is always evolving."

K-pop has been around for a long time, but in recent years, big-name acts like BLACKPINK and BTS (to name a few) have increased the genre's popularity worldwide, particularly in the West. And when KPop Demon Hunters was released on June 20, 2025, the film and its soundtrack took the genre to new heights. Although she's modest about her huge contribution and impact on the world of K-pop, EJAE is rightfully considered one of the genre's leading trailblazers right now.

Furthermore, EJAE predicts that the current state of K-pop will not only become more expansive, but it will also continue to impact the industry in big ways. "I think K-pop is always evolving. And I think, because of right now, how everything is so interconnected with social media...the influence is just going to be quite instant. I think KPop Demon Hunters, we kind of stay true to the essence of K-pop. Especially the OG K-pop." She continues, "I personally think [K-pop] is always mixing different genres that you never thought would mix together...So, I hope to see that continue as it keeps evolving. And maybe that will influence pop music, too."

As for her recent Golden Globe win (which also made her the first Korean American to win in that category as well as the first-ever K-pop song win), EJAE remained humble, simply saying she's thankful and acknowledging that it's been a 'crazy experience'.

EJAE Announces New Single and Partnership With Liquid I.V.

All this with the possibility of an Oscar win on the horizon.

EJAE also has her own personal aspirations, not only in the K-pop sphere, but in other ways as well. "I think I want to explore artistry. As I said, I trained to be a K-pop idol, but that never happened, so I never really got to explore what it means to me to be an artist. So, I'm very curious about that." And as EJAE continues to figure out how to hone her massive talents into another art form, for now, she wants fans (whom she lovingly refers to as Wings) to feel a warm connection to her music. "I want them to feel good about themselves."

In addition to preparing for her possible Oscar win, EJAE has another exciting project on the horizon. Her second solo single, "Time After Time", drops February 6th. And although the details of the track are scarce, anticipation is already high. EJAE gave us a brief but interesting insight into the song that will undoubtedly be a smash hit: "Well, actually, that song I wrote… 8 years ago. That song [has since] evolved. So, I hope everyone stays tuned for what it ended up turning out to be."

Not only do fans have her next single to look forward to, but also her collaboration with Liquid I.V. The major partnership with the hydration multiplier started off with a bang, with the company releasing an extended performance of EJAE singing a rendition of the Phil Collins hit "Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)." EJAE expressed not only her involvement with the brand, as well as her cover, but also exactly how much the experience meant to her. "I'm so honored Liquid IV came, reached out, and they wanted to collaborate and have me sing 'Against All Odds,' which is an iconic song. I love it. I felt very honored, but also very scared to sing it." She added that not only has the song been in her playlist for some time, but that it was a family favorite one that her father, in particular, "would belt out in the karaoke booth."

EJAE Stays Focused on the Present as Talk of a 'KPop Demon Hunters' Sequel Grows

As the world patiently awaits the sequel and official confirmation of KPop Demon Hunters 2, EJAE admits that her involvement with the franchise is something that, for now, she's not completely focused on, although she admits her excitement over it. She stated that for the soundtrack, "It's Maggie [Kang]'s vision, and it's the directors' vision, so as a songwriter who's coming in, I have to respect that and stay true to that. Let's see what they come up with."

Right now, EJAE appears content to focus on the here and now and to listen to other artists who inspire her craft. "Lately, I've been listening to a lot of classical music, like Erik Satie. I love it. Yeah, it just soothes you. Also, I've been listening to Olivia Dean." As for her fans? She had a poignant message to depart: "I would not be here, literally, without the fans. I think it's so interesting that I even get to say that I have fans. Like I said, I kind of gave up the dream of being a singer. So, I just feel so grateful to them, and grateful is such an understatement of the feeling. [I'm grateful to them for] seeing something in me and making me feel good about my voice. And making me feel confident when I don't even feel confident. I think they believe in my voice sometimes more than I believe in my own voice, so I really, really appreciate that."

KPop Demon Hunters is available to stream on Netflix. Be sure to check out "Time After Time," available on all platforms here.