[OSENWORLD] For EJAE, the Korean-American songwriter behind Red Velvet’s viral hit “Psycho” and K-Pop Demon Hunters’ chart-topping anthem “Golden,” the path to success was defined by rejection, persistence, and self-discovery.
Before making his mark in the global music scene, EJAE spent over ten years as a trainee at SM Entertainment, one of Korea’s biggest entertainment companies. Reflecting on that decade-long journey, he shared in a recent interview that the experience taught him resilience above all else.
“Everything happens for a reason,” he said. “When you’re young, rejection hurts — it’s easy to take it personally. But those moments taught me more than any success could.”
EJAE explained that years of setbacks helped him understand SM’s rigorous system.
“Over time, I came to understand why the training was so intense,” he said. “Everyone has their own timing, and growth doesn’t happen overnight. My mom always told me, ‘Words become seeds.’ If you say ‘I can’t,’ you make it true. So I learned to tell myself, ‘I can.’”
After stepping away from idol training, EJAE found healing in music production.
“Honestly, music saved me,” he said. “I started making beats in cafés near Hongdae, working for twelve hours straight every day. I’d walk there from Yeonhui-dong, just to keep creating.”
That passion paid off. EJAE went on to co-write “Psycho,” one of Red Velvet’s most acclaimed singles, and more recently “Golden” — the breakout soundtrack from Netflix’s animated action fantasy K-Pop Demon Hunters. The film, which follows three K-pop idols who secretly battle demons behind their glamorous stage lives, has become a global sensation since its June release, topping Netflix’s worldwide charts and making history with its Billboard Hot 100 success.
For EJAE, the story hit close to home.
“I connected deeply with LUMI’s character — trying to shoulder everything alone before realizing she needed her team,” he said. “That’s something I’ve lived through too. No one survives alone.”
As K-Pop Demon Hunters continues to shatter streaming records — surpassing Squid Game with over 300 million views — EJAE’s message resonates: growth comes from both pain and collaboration.
“Even if you’re rejected, it’s okay,” he said. “When the next opportunity comes, give it your all — that’s what keeps you moving forward.”
/k_inside@osen.co.kr
Courtesy of Netflix
