Filmmaker Maggie Kang broke through at the Academy Awards as KPop Demon Hunters secured two nominations, while South Korea's International Feature Film submission No Other Choice failed to reach the final nominee list.

Two Nods: Animated Feature and Original Song

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) announced the nominees for the 98th Academy Awards on January 22, 2026 (KST). KPop Demon Hunters was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film, competing against Arco, Zootopia 2, Elio, and Little Amélie or the Character of Rain for the category's single trophy.

The film also earned a nomination for Best Original Song with "Golden," a track written, composed, and performed by Korean heritage musician EJAE (Lee Jae). The Best Original Song race includes "Dear Me" (Dianne Warren: Relentless), "I Lied to You" (Sinners), "Sweet Dreams of Joy" (Viva Verdi!), and "Train Dreams" (Train Dreams).

Korea's Oscar Entry Falls Short

Park Chan-wook's No Other Choice did not make the final five in the International Feature Film category, despite being selected as South Korea's official submission. The nominated titles are The Secret Agent (Brazil), It Was Just an Accident (France), Sentimental Value (Norway), Sirat (Spain), and The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia).

The 98th Academy Awards ceremony will be held on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted by Conan O'Brien.