Ejae

Kim Eun-jae (; born December 6, 1991), known professionally as Ejae (stylized in all caps; ), is a South Korean and American singer, songwriter, and record producer.

A graduate of New York University Tisch School of the Arts, Kim started as a trainee for SM Entertainment in 2003 but did not debut as a soloist or music group member. She moved into songwriting and producing and initially became known for her work with K-pop acts Red Velvet, Aespa, Twice, Le Sserafim, and other South Korean artists. She co-wrote the topline for "Psycho" for girl group Red Velvet, which topped the US Billboard World Digital Songs chart.

Kim had her international breakthrough in 2025, providing the singing voice for Rumi in the Sony Pictures Animation and Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters (2025) and co-writing several songs on its soundtrack. "Golden", one of the songs she co-performed and co-wrote for the film, topped the Billboard Hot 100 and other global music charts, and earned four Grammy Award nominations (including Song of the Year). It became the first K-pop song to win numerous North American industry awards, including the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media, the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, and the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Kim released her debut solo single "In Another World" on October 24, 2025, followed by "Time After Time" on February 6, 2026.

Early life and education Kim was born on December 6, 1991, in Seoul, South Korea. When she was six months old, the family moved to Fort Lee, New Jersey, where she spent several years of her childhood. She moved back to South Korea at the age of eight, where she attended Seoul Foreign School. After returning to the United States for high school and graduating, she studied at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts, where she received a BFA from Tisch's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music in 2014.

Career

Beginning At the age of 11, Kim started out as a trainee for SM Entertainment for almost 10 years beginning in 2003. However, approval for her debut did not happen, either with a group or as a soloist.

2016–2024: Songwriting and producing After graduating from college, Kim switched to songwriting and producing. During this time, she was invited to sing on the soundtrack of a k-drama. While recording, she met a producer, Shinsadong Tiger. He then invited her to write a song in his studio. Kim's songwriting "passion crystallized in 2017 when she attended her first SM Entertainment songwriting camp". which went on to top the US Billboard World Digital Songs chart. It led to more opportunities to work with SM Entertainment.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kim co-wrote "Drama" for Aespa. She also helped co-produce the Girl Crush K-pop Vocals sample pack for producing K-pop songs. In 2022, she worked with Red Velvet again on the lead single "Birthday". In 2025, Kim signed with Prescription Songs, an independent music publisher founded by Dr. Luke.

2025–present: KPop Demon Hunters and further success

In April 2025, it was announced that Kim would be featured on the soundtrack of the Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters. She also wrote several of the songs on the soundtrack. Director Maggie Kang attributed Kim's demos as one of the reasons the film was greenlit; Kim explained she had co-written and recorded "most of the demos" for the film when the directors then asked her to be the official singing voice for the character Rumi. The film received positive reviews for its soundtrack. The soundtrack also charted at number one on the Billboard 200. One of the songs she co-wrote and performed, "Golden", topped the Billboard Hot 100. On "Golden" composition, Ars Technica commented that the song "spans an impressive three-octave range, eventually hitting an A-5 on the chorus–a high note usually reserved for classically trained operatic sopranos" and Kim's "performance on this song has impressed a lot of YouTube vocal coaches". The Korea Herald similarly highlighted Kim's "Golden" performance, noting "the result is both technically impressive and emotionally resonant, a combination that has resonated with audiences far beyond the film". Kim is credited on three of these charting songs; in addition to "Golden", Kim co-wrote and performed "How It's Done" and co-wrote "Your Idol".

In July 2025, YouTube channel Studio USOG announced Kim will contribute a song to the "Another Day of Debut Training" project, with all profits being donated to descendants of Korean independence activists. On August 14, 2025, the group formed through the web series, TDYA, debuted with the song "Keep the Light" composed by Kim and performed the song for the first time the following day at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul in a set of performances celebrating the 80th National Liberation Day of Korea.

alt=At a distance, Kim is facing left. She is wearing a Swarovski silver column gown; the image cuts off at her hips. On October 4, 2025, Kim announced her debut solo single, "In Another World," which was released on October 24. On the night of October 4, she along with her fellow KPop Demon Hunters cast-mates Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami made a cameo appearance on the season 51 premiere of Saturday Night Live in a sketch based on the film, reprising their respective roles as Rumi, Mira and Zoey. On October 7, they together performed "Golden" live in full for the first time on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. On October 22, Kim signed with WME. She then featured on the single "Out of My Body" from the upcoming deluxe edition of Anyma's third studio album The End of Genesys, which was released on December 19. On December 25, she and the other voices of Huntrix performed "12 Days of Christmas" at the Snoop Dogg 2025 NFL Halftime Show. On February 6, 2026, she released her second single "Time After Time." On April 10, 2026, she and the other voices of Huntrix appeared during Katseye's Coachella 2026 performance as surprise guests and performed "Golden" alongside Katseye. On June 10, 2026, the song "DNA (More Than a Game)", the official anthem of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, was released, which included Andrea Bocelli, Megan Thee Stallion and David Guetta alongside Kim. Kim, along with Bocelli, performed the song at the opening ceremony in Mexico City on June 11.

Personal life Kim is currently based in Brooklyn. Her grandfather, Shin Young-kyun, is an actor and arts patron.

2025

Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album(Opening Ceremony Edition) "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

As featured artist + List of singles as featured artist, with year, album and chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions Album "Out of My Body" 2025 97 24 13 89 38 21 31 The End of Genesys (Deluxe)

Soundtrack appearances + List of soundtrack appearances, with selected chart positions and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album US AUS CAN KOR MLY NZ PHLHot SGP UK WW "Whisper in the Dark" 2016 — — — — — — — — — — Monster OST "Take It Slow" — — — — — — Woman of 9.9 Billion OST "Midnight Cinderella" 2020 — — — — — — — — — — Dinner Mate OST "Once Again" 2021 — — — — — — — — — — Genesis OST "How It's Done" 2025 8 9 9 10 9 8 12 9 9 5 RIAA: Platinum ARIA: 2× Platinum BPI: Platinum RMNZ: Platinum KPop Demon Hunters OST "Golden" 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 RIAA: 5× Platinum KMCA: Platinum MC: 8× Platinum RMNZ: 4× Platinum BPI: Gold

ARIA: Platinum MC: 2× Platinum — KPop Demon Hunters OST (Deluxe) "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Production and songwriting credits All song credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA) and American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) databases, unless otherwise noted.

indicates a background vocal contribution. indicates a credited vocal/featured artist contribution.

Year Artist Album Song Co-produced / written with 2016 EXID Street "Hello" (Hani solo) Monster Factory, Made By, Park Yeong-hyeon 2017 Eclipse "Woo Yoo [Hani solo]" Monster Factory, MadeBy Byul Leaves "Leaves" Byul, Samuel Park, Kim Yeon-seo, Kim Min-ji, Andrew Choi 2018 Suzy Faces of Love "SObeR" Andrew Choi, Aaron Kim, Isaac Han Babylon CAELO "Karma" Ming Ji-syeon, Bae Sunghyun, Kim Jin, Jeong Da-un, JQ, THE QUIETT, Sendo, Park Ji-ho Dominique "Receipts"Dominique, MDA Seo In-young "Always" Monster Factory, JION 2019 Nana Mellie "Goodbye" Nana Mellie, Isaac Han, Aaron Kim Discrete "Trippin' Bout You" Ellen Berg, Dennis DeKo Kordnejad, Discrete Red Velvet The ReVe Festival: Finale "Psycho" Andrew "Druski" Scott, Cazzi Opeia Ejae Woman of 9.9 Billion "Take it Slow" Sammy Hakim, Stephen Wolf 2020 EUN Dinner Mate Original Soundtrack "Midnight Cinderella" Andrew Choi, Ming Ji-syeon Taeyeon #GirlsSpkOut "Sorrow" Sakurai Sara, Ming Ji-syeon Raymond J. Lee Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (Season 3 Mixtape) "Ocean of Love" Matthew Wang, Daniel Rojas 2021 Chung Ha Street Woman Fighter Special "Bad Girl" Czaer Twice Perfect World "Pieces of Love" Isaac Han, Albin Nordqvist, Walter Pok, Aaron Kim Mobile Legends: Bang Bang "Together" Stanley Robinson, Gabe Reali, David Westbom Kim Na-young Me "Killing Me Softly" Aaron Kim, Isaac Han, AND Twice Formula of Love: O+T=＜3 "Last Waltz" Lee Hae-sol, Sim Eun-jee League of Legends "Rebirth" Matthew Carl Earl 2022 Nada "Bulletproof" Nada, Bae Seong-hyeon, Jeong Se-hee, Lee Seul, Yeon Yu-jin, MSB, Brian U, Markalong, Charlotte Louise Jaye Wilson Nmixx Ad Mare "O.O" The Hub: Brian U, Enan, MarkAlong, Charlotte Wilson, Chanti, Awry, Ayushy, Jan Baars, Rajan Muse Hyo Deep "Stupid" Carlyle Fernandes, Chikk, Heber Nathaniel Martinez Lightsum Into the Light "Good News" Galactika: Atenna & Star Wars, Kim Hyun-joong Kard Re: "Break Down" BM, Isaac Han, Aaron Kim, J.seph, Somin, Jiwoo, Ghostchild Twice Celebrate "Flow Like Waves" Anna Timgren, Aaron Kim NmixxEntwurf"Dice"Armadillo, Rangga, Frankie Day (The Hub), Charlotte Wilson (The Hub), The Hub 88, Jonkind, Dr. Jo (153/Joombas), Charin (153/Joombas), Zaya (153/Joombas), Park Ji-hyun (153/Joombas), Myung Hye-in (Jam Factory), Baek Sae-im (Jam Factory), Danke (Lalala Studio) Red Velvet The ReVe Festival 2022 – Birthday "Birthday" Kole, Isaac Han, Aaron Kim, Ghostchild Ltd, Loosen Door 2023 Billlie The Billage of Perception: Chapter Three "nevertheless" GALACTIKA Kard Icky "Icky" J.seph, HAHM, BM MiSaMo Masterpiece "Funny Valentine" Momo, Yuka Matsumoto, Realmeee, Scott Bruzenak Lightsum Honey or Spice "Not My Style" Lee Hae-sol, Kyndyl Miller Aespa Drama "Drama" No Identity, Waker (153/Joombas), Charlotte Wilson 2024 Lim Kim "Ult" No Identity Kep1er Kep1going "Daisy" Kole, Isaac Han, Aaron Kim, Ghostchild Ltd, Ashe Ahn Madalen Duke, Kayla Diamond "Bones" Madalen Duke, Kayla Diamond, Sophie Curtis Fifty Fifty Love Tune "Starry Night" Kole, Alawn Aespa Armageddon "Armageddon" No Identity, Sumin Whiplash "Kill It" Imlay, Kirsten Collins, Waker (153/Joombas) MiSaMo Haute Couture "Baby, I'm Good" Aaron Kim Irene Like a Flower "Like a Flower" Barney Cox, Joey Eighty, JC. Don, Elena Hoey 2025 Le Sserafim Hot "So Cynical (Badum)" Vitals, Anthony Watts, Huh Yunjin, "Hitman" Bang, Hong Eun-chae, Kim Chaewon Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami (as Huntrix) KPop Demon Hunters (Soundtrack from the Netflix Film) "How It's Done" Daniel Rojas, Danny Chung, Mark Sonnenblick, 24, IDO, TEDDY Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami (as Huntrix) "Golden" Mark Sonnenblick, 24, IDO, TEDDY Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Danny Chung, Kevin Woo, and samUIL Lee (as the Saja Boys) "Your Idol" Mark Sonnenblick, Vince, KUSH, 24, IDO Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami (as Huntrix) "What It Sounds Like" Jenna Andrews, Stephen Kirk, Mark Sonnenblick, 24, IDO, TEDDY, Daniel Rojas Ejae "Prologue (Hunter's Mantra)" Marcelo Zarvos, Mark Sonnenblick, Daniel Rojas TDYA "Keep the Light" SOFTSERVEBOY, Ayushy, JSONG, Mirani, Joy Kim, Lee Jae Ni, Amy Y, LILA, Shico Nmixx Blue Valentine "O.O Part 2 (Superhero)" Brian U (The Hub), MarkAlong, Charlotte Wilson Twice Ten: The Story Goes On "ATM" JT Roach, Timothy "Bos" Bullock, Mikhail Miller Ejae "In Another World" Breagh Isabel, Ted Andreville, Vitals, Daniel Rojas 2026 "Time After Time" Rollo, Vaughn Oliver, Drew Scott Blackpink Deadline "Champion" Lukasz Gottwald, Theron ThomasI-D, Jason Richardson, and R.E.D Dungeon Fighter Online"Pick Your Poison"Alex KARLSON, T-MA, JONO, Nathan ROMERO Ejae, Andrea Bocelli, David Guetta, and Megan Thee StallionOfficial FIFA World Cup 2026 Album "DNA (More Than a Game)"Andrea Bocelli, David Guetta, Megan Pete, Giovanni Damiani, Giorgio Tuinfort, Felix Hain, Lucas Hain, Bobby Session Jr., Ashley Milton, Daniel Goudie, Francesco Pasquero, Norma Jean Martine

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 2025 KPop Demon Hunters Rumi (singing voice) Netflix original film Saturday Night Live Herself Season 51, episode 1Cameo Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve

Accolades Awards and nominations

Listicles + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year Listicle Placement Billboard Korea 2025 K-Pop Artist 100 Forbes 2025 100 Most Powerful Women Gold House 2026 Gold100 List Luminate 2025 Most Streamed K-Pop Artist in US Most Streamed K-Pop Artist in US