HUNTRIX Makes K-pop History: 'Golden' Tops Billboard Hot 100, Outranking BLACKPINK’s Record

Netflix’s original animated film K-pop Demon Hunters has rewritten K-pop history. Its soundtrack single “Golden” has soared to No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart—a feat no K-pop girl group had ever achieved before.

According to Billboard on the 11th (local time), "Golden" climbed one spot from the previous week, overtaking Alex Warren's "Ordinary" to claim the top position on the Hot 100 singles chart.

Released on June 20, "Golden" reached No. 1 in just seven weeks on the chart, making HUNTRIX the first K-pop girl group ever to top the Billboard Hot 100. In the broader K-pop landscape, this is only the fourth time a K-pop act has achieved this milestone, following BTS, Jimin, and Jungkook.

This historic achievement also marks the first time in 24 years that a girl group has reached No. 1 on the Hot 100 since Destiny's Child's "Bootylicious" in 2001. For virtual artists, it's the first time in three years since "We Don't Talk About Bruno" from the animated film Encanto topped the chart in 2022.



Previously, BLACKPINK held the record for the highest-charting K-pop girl group on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 13 with "Ice Cream." Now, HUNTRIX has shattered that record, setting a new benchmark for K-pop girl groups on the global stage.

Even "Let It Go," the iconic soundtrack from the 2013 film Frozen, only reached No. 5 on the Hot 100 despite its worldwide phenomenon status. "Golden" has now surpassed this, cementing its place as one of the most commercially successful animated OST tracks in history.

The success doesn't stop at Billboard. "Golden" also reached No. 1 on the UK Official Chart—the first K-pop song to do so in 13 years since PSY's "Gangnam Style." The track continues to dominate other major platforms, including Amazon Music, Apple Music's global and US charts, and US Spotify, consistently breaking records and completing what fans are calling the "Golden Gate" of achievements.



The runaway success of K-pop Demon Hunters is fueling the soundtrack's popularity. Following "Golden"'s triumph, Saja Boys' "Your Idol" also climbed one spot to reach No. 9 on the Hot 100, marking another milestone for the film's OST.

Currently, every track from the K-pop Demon Hunters OST album—except for "Sarangin Gabwa, Osolgil" and the background music track "Score Suite"—has entered the Hot 100. Not only HUNTRIX's songs but also Saja Boys' tracks are steadily gaining love from fans, intensifying the competition on the charts.

Although the "Golden Gate"—the only way to permanently seal away the demon lord Gwima, ruler of hell and evil spirits—has been completed, the popularity of Saja Boys, a group whose members are themselves spirits, continues to soar. Fans are eagerly watching to see if Saja Boys can break through the "Golden Gate" with "Your Idol" and make history once again.

Photo Credit: Netflix

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