Lee Jae of "K-Pop Demon Hunters" Golden: "Grandfather Shin Young-kyun Advised Me to Immerse in Singing Like Acting"

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Lee Jae (real name Kim Eunjae), who composed and performed "Golden," the original soundtrack (OST) for the globally successful Netflix animated film "K-Pop Demon Hunters," cited his grandfather, veteran actor Shin Young-kyun, as the person who had the most decisive influence on his musical career.

Lee Jae. Provided by Netflix

At the press conference for "K-Pop Demon Hunters" held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on October 15, Lee Jae said, "Although my grandfather is an actor, he always told me, 'You need to immerse yourself in singing just as you do in acting.' He said that unless you are 100% immersed in the lyrics, the audience won't be able to believe you. That advice has remained the most important lesson for me to this day."

He continued, "I grew up watching my grandfather work incredibly hard to reach where he is. Even now, he always encourages me to work hard. Thanks to him, I have received a lot of inspiration that made me who I am today."

In 2011, when Lee Jae was 19 years old, he appeared with Shin Young-kyun on a KBS morning program and said, "I want to become an artist who moves people, just like my grandfather." This clip has recently resurfaced and become a topic of conversation.

Shin Young-kyun was a leading actor and entrepreneur in the Korean film industry during the 1960s and 1970s, starring in 294 films such as "The Houseguest and My Mother," "Prince Yeonsan," and "Red Scarf," and helped usher in the golden age of Korean cinema. After ending his acting career with "San Francisco of Sorrow" in 1975, he established the Shin Young-kyun Arts and Culture Foundation to support younger generations of filmmakers.

In 2010, he donated the Myungbo Theater and the Shin Young Film Museum in Jeju, valued at 50 billion won, to the film industry. He also contributed land worth 10 billion won to Seoul National University as a development fund, making significant efforts to advance the arts and culture sector.

Veteran actor Shin Young-kyun. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Lee Jae, who is Korean American, said, "The reason I participated in this project was to showcase Korean culture. When I was growing up in the United States, many of my friends didn't even know where Korea was. I'm happy that this film can help change that perception."

Regarding his family's reaction, he said, "My mother had a large print of my photo made and got it signed. In our house, everyone's phone ringtone is 'Golden,' so when a phone rings, no one knows whose it is," he laughed.

In the early 2010s, Lee Jae trained as a trainee at SM Entertainment while studying music, and later participated in producing songs for K-pop groups such as Red Velvet, KARD, and NMIXX. He gained global popularity through the "K-Pop Demon Hunters" OST.

"Golden," which he worked on, topped the Billboard Hot 100 main singles chart for eight consecutive weeks and also reached number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart. It is being discussed as a major contender for the Grammy Awards and is also being considered as a potential nominee for Best Original Song at the Oscars (Academy Awards).