“Golden” Dreams: Lee Jae Eyes Grammy After K-pop Demon Hunters’ Global OST Craze

🌍 From Billboard to the Grammys: The Rise of Lee Jae

K-pop and Korean animation have just rewritten music history — and Lee Jae is at the heart of it all. With K-pop Demon Hunters sweeping global charts and Golden breaking through the Billboard top 5, the composer behind the magic says this is just the beginning.

In a heartfelt interview with JTBC, Lee Jae shared, “It still doesn’t feel real.” As he watched songs like Golden and Your Idol dominate Spotify and Billboard, Lee expressed deep gratitude, calling the experience “a dream come true.”

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💬 The Power Behind “Golden” and Its Message

“Golden was something I needed too,” Lee confessed. “Even if I fail, the message is: ‘You can do it.’” Crafted during a tough personal moment, the song became a cathartic expression of resilience. Its soaring melody and empowering lyrics have resonated deeply with fans across the globe — many of whom have posted emotional covers on YouTube.

Especially moving was a performance by Korean legend Bada, whose rendition of Golden brought Lee to tears. “I grew up listening to SES. I cried when I heard her sing my song,” he said.

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🎙️ Authenticity in Language and Sound

Though K-pop Demon Hunters was a U.S.-based production, Lee emphasized how it stayed true to Korean identity: “The director insisted on keeping Korean lyrics. Korean is such a beautiful language.” His inclusion of heartfelt Korean phrases like “forever unbreakable” and “brightly shining us” added to the song’s sincerity and impact.

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🏆 Grammy Dreams and Opening Doors

Lee’s biggest ambition? A Grammy. Not just for himself — but for every underrepresented Asian American composer. “No Asian songwriter has won yet. I want to open that door,” he declared.

As Golden is now being discussed as a strong contender for next year’s Academy Awards OST category, Lee remains humble but hopeful: “Let’s keep playing it. Maybe… we can make it happen.”

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📌 What’s Next?

With the global success of K-pop Demon Hunters, Lee Jae stands as a symbol of possibility — proving that music made with heart and heritage can transcend borders. Whether it’s an Oscar nod or a Grammy trophy, fans around the world are already cheering for him.

And yes — if he wins? He promised to return for another interview. “Oh my god. Yes. Please. I’ll be back,” he laughed.

Article Source: Anna Kyung, “[Interview] Lee Jae, the Composer Behind the ‘K-pop Demon Hunters’ OST Craze: ‘I Want to Win Korea’s First Grammy for Composition’,” JTBC Newsroom, July 27, 2025.

Alt Text: Stills from the Netflix anime K‑Pop Demon Hunters, showing Huntr/x in battle.

Caption: Official scene stills from K‑Pop Demon Hunters via ComicBook.com.

Image Source: Embedded from ComicBook.com, © Netflix