- - From Early Failure to ‘Golden’ Success! Who Is ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Star EJAE?

Carole GlinesNovember 9, 2025 at 8:45 PM

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The movie KPop Demon Huntershas become a smash hit and is now making a star of one of its singers — who previously flopped in KPop!

South Korean sensation EJAE sings as the character Rumi in KPop Demon Hunters, the animated Netflix film that is being re-released to the big screen this Friday for a special Halloween run. According to Google, Rumi is the most searched Halloween costume of 2025, sparking “dragon braid” and “purple hair” TikTok tutorials to help fans dress like her signature look.

KPop Demon Hunters concerns a three-girl KPop group called Huntr/x, which also hunts demons. The ladies go up against a rival boy band called the Saja Boys, who are secretly demons.

The movie debuted on Netflix on June 20, 2025 and was also in theaters in August with a sing-along version. Becoming a pop culture phenomenon, KPop Demon Hunters is the most popular original title in the history of the streaming service, with a whopping 325 million views. Plus, the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack is currently only behind Taylor Swift on the Billboard albums chart. Now a sequel is on track for a 2029 release, putting the spotlight on beautiful EJAE, who did the singing for animated Rumi.

KPop Demon HuntersNetflix

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The movie’s rabid fans want to know more about the singer who first hit it big in her native South Korea. Who is EJAE, what songs has she written, how did she succeed after early failure in K-pop, and does she have a romantic partner? Read on to find out more!

Related: Experts Reveal the Secret Behind the Iconic ‘KPop: Demon Hunters’ Braid

Who is EJAE?

EJAE is a singer, songwriter, and record producer. She adopted the all-caps professional name after being born Eun-JaeKim in Seoul, South Korea, on December 6, 1991, making her 33 years old. EJAE produced such South Korean girl groups as Red Velvet, Aespa, Twice, and Le Sserafim. But she’s now front and center herself as the singing voice for Rumi in KPop Demon Hunters. Ejae also wrote songs for the popular movie’s soundtrack!

Does EJAE sing for Rumi?

Yes! EJAE is the singing voice of Rumi, but an actress, Arden Cho, provides the dialogue and speaking voice for the character.

What songs did EJAE write?

EJAE co-wrote several songs for the soundtrack of the film K-pop Demon Hunters, such as "Golden," "How It's Done," and "Your Idol.”

She has also written or co-written numerous songs for other artists, including Red Velvet's "Psycho", aespa's "Drama," "Armageddon," and "O.O," LE SSERAFIM's "So Cynical (Badum)," and TWICE's "Last Waltz."

On October 24, EJAE released her debut solo single, “In Another World.” She told Wired about writing hits, “You have to keep exciting the audience.”

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - OCTOBER 13: Ejae is seen on the way to a recording of 'Lee Eunji's Music Plaza' on KBS Cool FM at KBS in Yeongdeungpo-gu on October 13, 2025 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by KCNA/Imazins via Getty Images)What is the vocal range of EJAE?

EJAE has an incredible vocal range of D3 to D6, which is three octaves plus one note. Her range very wide, and similar to Katy Perry’s. Fans are thrilled by her voice, as EJAE hit a high A5 note in the chorus of her song "Golden."

Why didn’t she debut as a K-pop star herself years ago?

EJAE trained to be a K-pop singer in 2003, at the age of 11. But her label, SM Entertainment, dropped her in 2015 after 12 years and zero debuts as a solo idol or group. SM Entertainment reportedly didn't select her for a debut due to lack of concept fit and visual harmony. “As a kid, it hurts,” she admitted to Wired. “I couldn’t sing those high notes back then.” But EJAE didn’t give up, studying music at New York University. She came back to SM again in 2017 for a songwriting camp where she churned out the melody for Red Velvet’s hit song “Psycho” in 30 minutes. After that triumph, EJAE’s songwriting career took off as she worked for several other K-pop acts. The Demon Hunters producers then came calling for her to sing and the rest is history!

Related: BTS Singer RM Compares K-Pop To This Famous Food in APEC Speech

Who are Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami?

While EJAE sings as Rumi in the Netflix film, the other two members of fictional Huntr/x, the characters Mira and Zoey, are sung by Korean-American singer/rappers Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami. In their music, Nuna and Ami are famed for blending genres. While Nuna, whose real name is Audrey Chu, first hit it big with Instagram cover songs before getting a record deal, Ami (real name Sarah Yeeun Lee) has been inspired by anime and put out the “Freak” single with Sub Urban. Nuna and Ami sing with EJAE in the chart-topping hit "Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters.

KPOP DEMON HUNTERS - When they aren't selling out stadiums, Kpop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey use their secret identities as badass demon hunters to protect their fans from an ever-present supernatural threat in Netflix's Kpop Demon Hunters.NetflixIs EJAE married?

No, but as of late 2023, according to social media, she got engaged to her fiancé Sam, a former music producer. She recently admitted a pause in their relationship inspired her single “In Another World.” EJAE said in an interview about her boyfriend, “We were good but we wanted a break…I needed some space to reassess. If we were to part ways, what’s a way to cope with that?” But happily, the two reunited!

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EJAE told Vulture of Sam, “He was basically my songwriting buddy, and we met during a session in 2017. We truly grew up together.”

What was the drama behind EJAE’s Tonight Show appearance?

Before the first live performance of “Golden” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon with her co-singers on October 7, EJAE had been battling bronchitis, Covid, and a cold. EJAE’s voice cracked during rehearsal with Nuna and Ami. But after a pep talk from her manager, her voice returned and the three delivered a powerful performance.

Will the group perform together again?

In her interview with Vulture, EJAE said she would definitely be singing live with Nuna and Ami again, but she doesn’t know about a concert tour yet. “That’s not up to us. But I want to perform with these ladies more,” she noted, adding that she’d want to belt out “How It’s Done” and different versions of “Golden.”

What has EJAE said about the entire KPop Demon Hunters frenzy?

The star told Vulture, “I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life. I’m fine for now, but I feel just … numb.”

EJAE also sighed to Wired about her breakthrough, “Fame is a tricky thing…not for the faint of heart. I’m trying to navigate through it. I love working behind the scenes.”

Related: Netflix Scores First-Ever Theatrical Win After Genius Move With K-Pop Hit

Would EJAE like to write songs for other famous singers?

Yes! The stunner has said she’d love to pen some tunes for Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga, and Ariana Grande. But she’s confided she wants to win her own Grammy because “I don’t really see many Asian-American women in the industry. So I want to help that grow and be a mentor to some of them.”

Will there be a follow up with EJAE to KPop Demon Hunters? There’s no word on a sequel movie but given the enormous success, it’s reportedly being planned!

Next, everything we know about the KPop Demon Hunters sequel.

This story was originally reported by Parade on Nov 9, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”