K-Pop Demon Hunters Joins BTS in Billboard No.1 Club, Fueling a Global K-Culture Craze

Netflix’s animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters is taking the world by storm, captivating fans worldwide and making history on the US Billboard Hot 100.

On the 11th (local time), the film’s original soundtrack song “Golden” soared to No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 main singles chart. According to Billboard, “Golden” climbed one spot from the previous week, overtaking Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” to claim the top position.

Billboard noted, “Golden is the ninth song associated with Korean pop to conquer the Hot 100, and the first-ever No.1 by female vocalists.”

The Hot 100 ranks songs based on US streaming data, radio airplay, and sales. During the latest charting period, “Golden” achieved 31.7 million streams—a 9% increase from the previous week. Radio airplay surged by 71% to 8.4 million, while sales rose by 35% to 7,000.

Many industry watchers had predicted “Golden” would top the Billboard Hot 100. From the moment K-Pop Demon Hunters was released, it became a massive hit not only in Korea but also internationally. The film’s soundtrack quickly climbed the ranks of overseas charts.

“Golden” entered the Hot 100 at No.81 early last month and rocketed to the top within just seven weeks. Other tracks from the film, such as “Your Idol” and “Soda Pop,” are also dominating the upper tiers of Billboard and Spotify’s global charts.



Until now, the only K-pop acts to reach No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 were BTS (with six songs), and BTS members Jimin and Jungkook (with one song each). “Golden” marks the first time a K-pop track performed by female vocalists has claimed the top spot, making K-Pop Demon Hunters a new global ambassador for K-pop in the wake of BTS’s groundbreaking success.

Following BTS’s unexpected global breakthrough, “K-culture” quickly became a mainstream force worldwide. Acclaimed works like the film Parasite and the drama Squid Game have drawn international attention, and now the animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters is continuing this winning streak, captivating audiences everywhere.

What’s more, the impact of K-Pop Demon Hunters is only growing with time. The spotlight is now on the singers featured on the soundtrack, as well as voice actors like Lee Byung-hun and Ahn Hyo-seop, the animation creators, and producers such as Teddy and Vince. Global cover challenges for “Golden,” “Soda Pop,” and “Your Idol” are fueling the film’s popularity, which shows no sign of slowing down through the rest of the year.

Anticipation for a second season of K-Pop Demon Hunters is at an all-time high. On the 31st of last month, US media outlet The Wrap reported that Netflix is considering two sequels, a live-action remake, and even a musical adaptation, all inspired by the film’s worldwide phenomenon.

All eyes are on whether K-Pop Demon Hunters can sustain its global momentum with a second season.

Photo Credit: Netflix

 

This article is a translated version of the original Korean article published by Xportsnews, originally written by Myung Heesuk. This article was translated from Korean using AI-assisted tools and human review to deliver an accurate and culturally appropriate version for international readers.