If you’ve listened to “Golden,” you’ve probably ugly-cried to it. And if you’ve ugly-cried to it, you definitely know EJAE (Kim Eun-jae). The South Korean-American singer-songwriter behind this K-pop: Demon Hunters anthem has pulled off what might be the entertainment industry’s greatest “I’ll show you” moment of all time.
From getting dumped by K-pop’s biggest agency to collecting Oscars, Grammys, and Golden Globes like Pokémon cards and now singing on the World Cup stage, EJAE is only getting started. While you’re still trying to nail her “Golden” high note, here are 9 facts about EJAE that might surprise you.
1. EJAE spent a decade training at SM Entertainment—only to be dropped
Photo: @ejae_k via Instagram
Photo: @ejae_k via Instagram
EJAE’s story begins with a devastating rejection. At just 11 years old, she entered South Korea’s notoriously rigorous idol training system at industry titan SM Entertainment, practising alongside future members of legendary groups like Girls’ Generation, SHINee, and f(x). After over ten years of gruelling preparation and being considered for various debut paths, the agency ultimately dropped her around 2014. Their verdict? Her natural, husky vocal style didn’t fit the company’s preference for “clean vocals”.
2. EJAE wrote mega-hits for the same companies that rejected her
Photo: @ejae_k via Instagram
Photo: @ejae_k via Instagram
In the ultimate act of poetic justice, EJAE channelled her heartbreak into becoming the secret weapon behind K-pop’s biggest hits. She packed her bags for New York to study at NYU’s prestigious Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, where she honed her production and songwriting skills. Armed with this expertise, she returned to pen masterclass hits for the very agencies that had overlooked her. Her credits include Red Velvet’s multi-platinum smash “Psycho” (inspired by a real-life argument with her long-distance fiancé), as well as chart-toppers for aespa (“Drama” and “Armageddon”), Twice, Le Sserafim, and Nmixx.
3. EJAE’s vocal demos got KPop: Demon Hunters approved by Sony Pictures
June 16, 2025 Ejae attends Netflix's "KPop Demon Hunters" Special Screening at Netflix Tudum Theater in Los Angeles
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
June 16, 2025 Ejae attends Netflix's "KPop Demon Hunters" Special Screening at Netflix Tudum Theater in Los Angeles
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
EJAE initially joined the KPop: Demon Hunters production team strictly as a songwriter in 2020, but her raw emotional depth transformed the entire project. When director Maggie Kang heard the reference tracks EJAE had recorded in her home studio, she knew their search for the lead character’s voice was over. These demos were so powerful that they convinced Sony Pictures to greenlight the project, with EJAE cast as the definitive singing voice for the heroine, Rumi. During development, she didn’t just sing for her own character—she built every layer of the demo tracks herself, recording complex harmonies and even lowering her register to stand in for the male rival idol characters, The Saja Boys. A woman who can do both.
4. EJAE completed “Golden” in a Japanese Airbnb
Photo: @ejae_k via Instagram
Photo: @ejae_k via Instagram
While the production team urgently needed her to finish reference tracks for KPop: Demon Hunters, EJAE happened to be vacationing in Japan. So, she put on her headphones and completed “Golden” inside a quiet neighbourhood Airbnb, proving that genius can strike anywhere.
5. EJAE made Grammy and Oscar history in one single year
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February 1, 2026 EJAE wins Best Song Written For Visual Media for “Golden From KPop Demon Hunters” at the 68th Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles
Photo: Leon Bennett/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
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March 15, 2026 EJAE accepts the Original Song award for "Golden" for "KPop Demon Hunters" during the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
February 1, 2026 EJAE wins Best Song Written For Visual Media for “Golden From KPop Demon Hunters” at the 68th Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles
Photo: Leon Bennett/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
March 15, 2026 EJAE accepts the Original Song award for "Golden" for "KPop Demon Hunters" during the 98th Oscars at Dolby Theatre
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
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The KPop: Demon Hunters soundtrack became an unprecedented cultural phenomenon, dominating the Billboard charts for over 18 weeks. At the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, EJAE made history as the first K-pop artist to win a Grammy when “Golden” took home Best Song Written for Visual Media. She followed this monumental achievement on March 15, 2026, by winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song, becoming the first-ever Clive Davis alum to receive an Oscar. This historic double win cemented her status as a global music icon.
6. EJAE suffers from stage fright and performance anxiety
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Photo: @ejae_k via Instagram
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Photo: @ejae_k via Instagram
Photo: @ejae_k via Instagram
Photo: @ejae_k via Instagram
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Despite her chart-topping success, the KPop: Demon Hunters star continues to battle severe stage fright. EJAE has experienced panic attacks before major television appearances, including her debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. During her performance at the BAFTAs, her voice cracked mid-song when she locked eyes with Leonardo DiCaprio in the audience.
7. EJAE Brought Korean to the FIFA World Cup Stage
Photo: Tom Weller/picture alliance via Getty Images
Photo: Tom Weller/picture alliance via Getty Images
During the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony at a packed Estadio Azteca, she took centre stage alongside legendary Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli to deliver the official tournament anthem, “DNA.” Wearing a custom gown by Korean designer LEJE, EJAE personally penned and performed the song’s Korean lyrics: “it’s okay to fall again, just get back up once more”.
8. EJAE has officially made her solo debut
EJAE officially made her solo debut with “In Another World” in October 2025, followed by an upbeat heartbreak anthem “Time After Time” in February 2026. After years of crafting hits for K-pop’s biggest names, EJAE is now owning the spotlight.
9. EJAE’s grandfather is a legendary Korean cinema icon
Exceptional creative talent runs deep in her family DNA. EJAE is the granddaughter of Shin Young-kyun, one of the most prolific and celebrated actors of South Korean cinema’s golden era, who starred in hundreds of classic films like Red Muffler. Beyond his legendary screen status, his grandfather is known as a philanthropist, having donated major cultural theatres to the arts and millions of dollars’ worth of land to Seoul National University.
