Ejae: From SM Entertainment Trainee to Global KPop Star Demon Hunters

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Kim Eun-jae aka 'Ejae', is recently in the spotlight of the music world thanks to her role in the Netflix animated film, "KPop Demon Hunters."

This Korean-American singer-songwriter not only voices the main character Rumi but also contributed to writing the songs on the film's soundtrack.

Born on December 6, 1991, in Seoul, South Korea, she is the granddaughter of legendary South Korean actor Shin Young-kyun and studied at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

After years behind the scenes as a songwriter and producer, Ejae has finally stepped onto the stage.

In October 2025, she is set to release her debut solo single, "In Another World."

This debut marks a new chapter in Ejae's career, who was previously better known as the figure behind the hit songs of famous K-Pop groups.

Ejae began his journey in the music industry as a trainee at SM Entertainment for almost a decade, starting in 2003 but unable to debut as a group member or soloist because the agency saw her too old.

This situation prompted her to explore other avenues in music, leading her to move to the United States in 2011 to focus on songwriting and producing.

Her first major breakthrough came in 2019 when she co-wrote the topline for Red Velvet's "Psycho," which went on to achieve gold certification in the US.

She has songwriting credits for popular groups such as Aespa ('Drama', 'Armageddon'), Twice, Le Sserafim, and NMIXX, proving his ability to create hits.

Additionally, Ejae was also involved in the soundtrack for the Korean drama "Woman of 9.9 Billion" in 2019 and collaborated again with Red Velvet for the lead single "Birthday" in 2022.

In 2025, she signed with Prescription Songs, an independent music publisher, marking a significant step in her professional career.

Ejae's global recognition peaked in April 2025, when it was announced that she was involved in the soundtrack for the Netflix film "KPop Demon Hunters."

She not only provided the lead vocals for the main character Rumi, but also co-wrote several iconic songs for the film, including "Golden," "How It's Done," and "Your Idol."

The film's director, Maggie Kang, even acknowledged that Ejae's demos were one of the main reasons the film was greenlit.

The song "Golden," performed and co-written by Ejae, topped the Billboard Hot 100 and charts in various countries.

The success of the film's soundtrack was also evident in its second-place finish on the Billboard 200.

In August 2025, Billboard highlighted that songs from the soundtrack claimed four of the top five spots on the Billboard Global 200 chart.

The film "KPop Demon Hunters," which premiered on June 20, 2025, became the most-watched animated film on Netflix.

EJAE, @audreynuna & @reiamimami from KPop Demon Hunters perform “Golden”! ✨Watch the full performance ⬇️https://t.co/wteN3Q2KYM#KPopDemonHuntersOnFallon #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/FRxRW2nb6R

— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) October 8, 2025

On October 4, 2025, Ejae announced that her debut solo single, "In Another World," would be released on October 24, 2025.

On the same date, Ejae, along with fellow "KPop Demon Hunters" cast members Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, made a cameo appearance on the premiere episode of the 51st season of "Saturday Night Live."

Ejae also made her first live performance of "Golden" with Nuna and Rei Ami on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" on October 7, 2025.

She is also scheduled to appear on the tvN variety show "You Quiz on the Block."

On October 4, 2025, "Golden" by HUNTR/X (the fictional group in the film) peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Philippines Hot 100, while "What It Sounds Like" and "How It's Done" peaked at No. 61 and No. 63, respectively.