The Golden Spotlight: Ejae (The Real Star of Kpop Demon Hunters)

At first, she was humbly known as the singing voice of Rumi in Kpop Demon Hunters (2025). Now, the entire world of entertainment knows who Ejae is after the huge cultural impact and success of the movie’s hit song “Golden.”

Ejae started as a Kpop trainee under SM Entertainment at the age of 11, and after ten years of rigorous training, she never made a debut and was eventually dropped by her management. She redirected her focus to her college studies at NYU, and then started her career as a songwriter and producer.

She went on to help create the soundtrack for Netflix’s Kpop Demon Hunters and became the singing voice for the main character, Rumi. Ejae also co-wrote and performed the movie’s hit song “Golden,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and just won Best Song at the Golden Globes.

In her heartfelt acceptance speech, Ejae says, “When I was a little girl, I worked tirelessly for 10 years to fill one dream, to become a K-pop idol, and I was rejected and disappointed that my voice isn’t good enough, and so I leaned on songs and music to get through it. So now I’m here as a singer and a songwriter. It’s a dream come true to be part of a song that is helping other girls, other boys, and everyone from all ages to get through their hardship and to accept themselves. So thank you, Golden Globes, for accepting my voice and our voice.”

Ejae dedicated the award to people who have had doors closed on them. “I can confidently say, ‘Rejection is redirection,’ and so, never give up.” She then ended her acceptance speech with the perfect lyric from “Golden.” Ejae tells us that, “it’s never too late to shine like you were born to be.”