Today, singer-songwriter Ejae (Kim Eun Jae) has become one of the biggest names to rise from the world of K-pop. Fans worldwide want her to release more Billboard toppers, but this success didn’t come easy to Ejae. Despite being the grandchild of one of the biggest names in the Korean acting industry, she didn’t achieve fame until her breakthrough with K-pop Demon Hunters.
While it may be surprising, this young K-pop singer herself admitted that she debuted long ago. Once told she was “too old” to even step into the industry as a K-pop idol, the former trainee has now broken global records with her song “Golden.”
From trainee struggles to Netflix fame
Before her dramatic, overnight success, Ejae spent nearly a decade training under SM Entertainment, one of Korea’s biggest music companies. Despite her talent, she never got a chance to debut, the company reportedly thought she had passed the ideal age for an idol. Heartbroken but determined to pursue her career in the same field, she decided to follow music differently, by writing songs.
After leaving SM, Ejae studied at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Years later, her decision started taking shape when she co-wrote Red Velvet’s mega-hit “Psycho” in 2017. The song went platinum in South Korea and brought her back on the K-pop map.
The turning point: KPop Demon Hunters
In 2025, Netflix released KPop Demon Hunters, an animated film about a girl group that secretly fights demons at night. The movie broke all records on Netflix, even beating all-time hits like Red Notice, and kept trending for consecutive weeks. No one expected that a film, made for light entertainment and not aimed at pleasing a wide audience, would do the unexpected.
Ejae not only voiced Rumi, one of the main characters, but also co-wrote and sang the film’s lead track, “Golden.” The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight straight weeks and became one of the biggest K-pop hits of the year. It was later submitted by Netflix for the 2026 Oscars in the Best Original Song category.
At a press event in Seoul, Ejae said, “Just two months ago, I was simply a songwriter. It still feels unreal to get so much love.”Earlier in an interview, Ejae revealed that her passion for performance comes from her family. She’s the granddaughter of veteran Korean actor Shin Young Kyun, a legendary name who appeared in over 300 films.
“When I was young, my grandfather told me, ‘Even when you sing, you are performing,’” Ejae shared. “He went through a lot of hardships, and seeing his dedication gave me strength.” She also revealed that he recently sent her a simple but emotional message — “You did well. Keep working hard.”
Known for her songwriting skills, Ejae has written for top K-pop acts including Twice, Aespa, and Le Sserafim. Many in the industry now call her “the Benny Blanco of K-pop,” referring to the famous American hitmaker behind songs for Rihanna, Ed Sheeran, and Katy Perry.
Talking about “Golden,” Ejae said she wrote it during a tough phase in her life. “I cried while singing the demo,” she admitted in an interview. “I think the song connects because people want hope right now, and Golden gives that.”