Singer-songwriter Lee Jae, who won the Academy Award for Best Original Song with the OST 'Golden' from the Netflix animation 'K-Pop Demon Hunters', conveyed his joy of winning with his down-to-earth charm.
On the 17th, Lee Jae posted a heartfelt message on his social media account along with photos from the 98th Academy Awards ceremony. In the released photos, Lee Jae is seen smiling brightly while holding the trophy, embracing his fellow performers on stage. What particularly caught the public's attention was the menu for the after party that followed the awards ceremony. Lee Jae showcased his enjoyment of a warm bowl of pork soup topped generously with green onions, revealing the unique sentiment of Koreans and receiving enthusiastic responses from the public.
Earlier, on the 15th, at the ceremony held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, USA, 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' won both the Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song awards, proving the strength of K-content. Lee Jae expressed his overwhelming emotion on stage, stating, "'Golden' is a song about recovery, not success," and shared how a girl who was teased for loving K-pop as a child became the protagonist of a song sung worldwide. In a backstage interview, he dedicated the song and the film to Korea, expressing deep gratitude to his domestic fans.
However, behind the glorious news of his award lies a controversy that has left a stain on the ceremony's operation. Just as Lee Jae finished his acceptance speech and was about to pass the microphone to a colleague, the microphone was cut off, and exit music began to play while the broadcast switched to a wide shot. This has led to online criticism, with accusations of disrespect towards the Asian award winner and allegations of racism forming a strong backlash.
Despite the controversy, Lee Jae showed composure by wrapping up the Oscar night with a bowl of soup. The friendly and down-to-earth actions of the pop star, who has swept global charts, have continued to receive waves of congratulations and support from both domestic and international audiences.
