The song 'Golden' from Netflix's globally successful animated film 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' has climbed to the top of the British Official Singles Chart Top 100, marking a historic achievement for Korean popular music.

According to the chart released on Friday, 'Golden' jumped four positions to claim the number one spot during its sixth week on the chart. This milestone represents a significant moment for K-pop's international presence, as the track performed by Huntr/x, the fictional girl group featured in the animated film, became the first K-pop act to reach the top position in 13 years since Psy's 'Gangnam Style' dominated the chart in October 2012.

Martin Talbot, chief executive officer of the Official Charts Company, emphasized the significance of this achievement in a statement published on the company's website. 'It's 13 years since Psy's 'Gangnam Style' became the first K-Pop Number 1 in the UK, way back in October 2012, but this week represents another landmark moment for the globally dominating South Korean genre,' Talbot commented.

The success of 'Golden' also marks another important record, as it became the first song from an animated film soundtrack to top the British chart since 'We Don't Talk About Bruno' from Disney's 'Encanto' achieved the same feat in 2022.

Produced by Sony Pictures Animation, the American film studio, 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' is a Netflix original that tells the compelling story of Huntr/x, a girl group that protects humanity from supernatural threats and evil spirits. The film's unique blend of Korean pop culture and supernatural adventure has resonated with global audiences.

'Golden' features the vocal talents of three accomplished artists: Ejae, a composer who received training at the prestigious SM Entertainment; Audrey Nuna, a Korean American singer; and Rei Ami, a South Korean-born artist based in the United States. Ejae, who is also of South Korean origin and now works in the United States, contributed to the songwriting process as well.

The production team behind 'Golden' includes industry heavyweights Teddy and 24, both renowned for their work with major K-pop agency The Black Label, serving as co-producers. Their involvement has brought professional polish and authentic K-pop sensibilities to the track.

The song incorporates Korean lyrics alongside English, including a meaningful line that translates to 'forever unbreakable,' adding cultural authenticity to the international production. The track's appeal lies in its catchy and familiar melody combined with soaring vocal performances, quickly establishing itself as the biggest summer hit of the season and earning widespread praise from music fans worldwide.

'Golden' has demonstrated remarkable chart performance since its debut. The song first appeared on the British Official Singles Chart at number 93 in late June and has shown consistent upward momentum week after week, coinciding with the film's growing success. The track climbed progressively through the rankings, moving from number 93 to number 31, then to number 20, followed by number 9, and number 4, before finally reaching the coveted number one position.

The international success of 'Golden' extends beyond the United Kingdom. The song has topped South Korea's leading music platform Melon's Top 100 chart, demonstrating its appeal in its home market. Additionally, the track reached an impressive number 2 position on the prestigious U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, showcasing its broad international appeal.

The soundtrack for 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' has seen strong overall performance, with multiple tracks achieving chart success. 'Your Idol' secured the number 10 position, 'Soda Pop' reached number 11, and 'Takedown' landed at number 63 on the British Official Singles chart, indicating the soundtrack's comprehensive appeal.

In the broader K-pop landscape this week, other notable Korean acts also maintained their presence on the British charts. BLACKPINK's new single 'Jump' experienced a slight decline, dropping five spots to number 36 from the previous week's position. Rose, a member of BLACKPINK, saw her solo hit 'APT.' fall four positions to number 44. Meanwhile, the popular girl group TWICE made a return to the chart with their song 'Strategy,' which reentered at number 85.

This achievement represents more than just commercial success; it demonstrates the continued global expansion and acceptance of Korean popular culture. The success of 'Golden' on international charts, particularly in established Western markets like the United Kingdom and United States, highlights the growing influence of K-pop and Korean entertainment content worldwide. The fact that this success comes through an animated film soundtrack also shows the diversification of how Korean music reaches global audiences, extending beyond traditional music releases to multimedia entertainment projects.