They're no longer just virtual: Netflix's hit animated film KPop Demon Hunters is taking on real-life stars on K-pop’s biggest music award show. Two songs from the musical fantasy have been nominated for the Best OST category in the 2025 K-World Dream Awards.
Golden and Soda Pop, performed by the fictional girl group Huntrix and their rival boy band Saja Boys, respectively, have made their way onto the list of nominees for the show, slated for Aug. 21, the awards committee said on Tuesday.
Both tracks pit the virtual K-pop acts against some of the industry’s biggest real-life stars.
Saja Boys, a boy group of demons in disguise (Courtesy of Netflix)
The two songs have already become global sensations, climbing high on major charts, including Billboard's.
The film’s full soundtrack, featuring both Golden and Soda Pop, soared to No. 5 on the Billboard 200.
FROM VIRTUAL WORLD TO REAL STAGE
The virtual groups are also going head-to-head on K-pop’s biggest music stages. Their battle for top honors at the fictional World Idol Awards in the anime is now playing out in real life.
Stray Kids at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany, on July 15 ( (Courtesy of JYP Entertainment) The 2025 K-World Dream Awards will take place at Jamsil Arena in Seoul, showcasing live performances by both established and rising K-pop stars, including Stray Kids, Le Sserafim, IVE, TXT, Cravity, Newbeat, NCT Wish and Hearts2Hearts.
Joining Golden and Soda Pop in the Best OST race are When the Day Comes by TOMORROW X TOGETHER, the OST from this year’s hit medical drama Resident Playbook.
The awards ceremony will be broadcast live on Japan’s TBS network, while fans elsewhere around the world can tune in via streaming platform HelloLive in real time.
Write to Yeonhee Kim at yhkim@hankyung.com Joel Levin edited this article.