It’s been quite a year for Korean singer EJAE.
The 34-year-old artist, born Kim Eun-jae, rose to international stardom after lending her voice to the Netflix film, “KPop Demon Hunters.” After winning multiple prestigious awards, EJAE knows the sky is the limit when it comes to achieving her musical dreams.
Now that “KPop Demon Hunters” is getting a sequel, EJAE knows she will have plenty to occupy her time in the upcoming months. But in the meantime, she’s expressing gratitude for her success and giving some advice for others who want to follow in her footsteps.
EJAE Recalls the Moment She Realized How Impactful ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Was
During the summer of 2025, the animated Netflix film “KPop Demon Hunters” took the entire world by storm. The song “Golden” from the film became the first K-pop song to win an Oscar at the 98th Academy Awards. But that’s not where it ends. The song also won a Golden Globe and a Grammy.
EJAE could hardly believe her skyrocketing success and international fame.
“I finally let out a cry, and that was the first time I really soaked it in,” the 34-year-old shared with PEOPLE. “The first thing I said out loud was ‘thank you’ — to the universe, God and everybody who was involved in my life helping me.”
“I wanted to give up. It was just not for me,” EJAE continued, recalling the long journey it took to reach this point in her career. “But my mom always said what you say out loud turns into a story. She says, ‘Stop saying that you can’t do it, always say that you can.’ She always believed in me.”
EJAE spent most of her early career training to be a K-pop idol, but eventually realized it wasn’t a good fit. K-pop idols spend so much of their lives in the spotlight, and every detail has to be perfect.
“I’m already so hard on myself that even hearing one little comment that can be misconstrued, I would take that to heart,” the artist revealed. Instead, she went on to study American underground music styles, particularly the sounds in Los Angeles in New York.
The Singer Imparts Wisdom to Other Aspiring Artists
EJAE has spent decades in the music industry. She knows just how challenging it can be, but wants to encourage other budding musicians to keep going.
“If you have a dream, take care of it,” the artist told PEOPLE. “But don’t lose yourself taking care of it.”
After an incredible year, the 34-year-old is eager to have some downtime before diving into her next project. She will take the next few weeks for some rest and relaxation before exploring her art again.
“I’ll be doing a lot of writing and a lot of finding myself as an artist. Finding my sound,” EJAE shared. “I’m just excited to write with people and collaborate with different people because one of the biggest, most fun things about writing is learning from other writers. I love hearing other people’s melodies and lyrical ideas, so I’m very excited about that.”
“KPop Demon Hunters” is available to stream on Netflix.
