(LEAD) 'KPop Demon Hunters' wins Oscar for Best Animated Feature

▲ A still from "KPop Demon Hunters" is seen in this image provided by Netflix. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ A scene from "KPop Demon Hunters" is seen in this image provided by Netflix. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) animated film-Oscar

(LEAD) 'KPop Demon Hunters' wins Oscar for Best Animated Feature

(ATTN: UPDATES with Kang's speech in paras 3-4)

SEOUL, March 16 (Yonhap) -- Netflix's global animation sensation "KPop Demon Hunters" won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature on Sunday (U.S. time), marking another major milestone for the Korean culture-inspired film.

The film triumphed at the 98th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, beating out strong competitors, such as Disney's "Zootopia 2" and Pixar's "Elio," to take the top animation honor.

As the movie's theme song "Golden" played, co-director Maggie Kang took the stage in a red dress, alongside co-director Chris Appelhans and producer Michelle L.M. Wong, her voice breaking with emotion.

"For those of you who look like me, I'm so sorry that it took us so long to see us in a movie like this," said Kang, a Korean Canadian filmmaker. "But it is here, and that means that the next generation don't have to go longing. This is for Korea and for Koreans everywhere."

"KPop Demon Hunters" centers on Huntr/x, who live a double life, balancing their music careers with their duties as warriors who protect the world from demonic spirits, like the overlord Gwi-Ma and the soul-stealing Saja Boys.

Released on June 20 last year, the Sony Pictures Animation film became an instant hit and Netflix's most-watched movie of all time.

Riding on that global success, the film also won Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song at the Golden Globe Awards in January, and last month became the first work in the K-pop genre to receive Best Song Written for Visual Media at the Grammy Awards.

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