PSY’s Gangnam Style, released in 2012, remains a global sensation, recently named one of YouTube’s 18 most iconic moments in its 20-year history. The song’s catchy beat and unforgettable horse-riding dance continue to resonate, cementing its place in pop culture.
How Gangnam Style Took Over the World
Gangnam Style dropped on July 15, 2012, as the lead single from PSY’s sixth album, Psy 6 (Six Rules), Part 1. The music video, filmed in just 48 hours, featured PSY in a bright blue tuxedo, dancing in various Seoul locations like the Seoul Trade Tower and Coex Mall. Its quirky humor and infectious energy made it a hit.
The song critiques the flashy lifestyle of Seoul’s wealthy Gangnam district. PSY, whose real name is Park Jae-sang, wrote it to poke fun at the area’s consumerism. Despite its local focus, the video’s universal appeal led to massive popularity.
By September 2012, it topped charts in over 30 countries. On December 21, 2012, it became the first YouTube video to reach 1 billion views, a record set in just 159 days. The video’s success was so huge that it broke YouTube’s view counter in 2014, forcing an upgrade to handle views beyond 2.1 billion.
The Horse Dance That Everyone Copied
The song’s signature horse-riding dance, created by PSY and his choreographer, became a global craze. Celebrities like Britney Spears, Katy Perry, and Tom Cruise shared it with their fans. Flash mobs popped up in cities like Paris, Sydney, and New York.
Even world leaders joined in. United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon tried the dance moves, joking that PSY had become the most famous Korean. The dance inspired parodies, including one by the British Army and another in the Star Trek language Klingon.
“I was stunned. I couldn’t believe my eyes.”
— Journalist Jung Min Gyu on seeing global stars dance to Gangnam Style.
K-Pop and YouTube Milestone
Gangnam Style changed the music industry. It showed that a non-English song could dominate globally, paving the way for K-pop acts like BTS and Blackpink. BTS member Suga praised PSY for opening doors in the U.S. market.
“He’s always someone I was grateful for. With ‘Gangnam Style’, he paved the way for K-pop in the United States.”
— Suga of BTS in a 2022 video.
The song also pushed YouTube to rethink its role in music charts. Billboard began including YouTube views in its rankings, helping non-English songs gain traction. As of December 2023, the video has over 5 billion views, making it the fifth most-watched music video on YouTube.
PSY’s Journey Before and After
PSY, born in 1977, was already a star in South Korea. Inspired by Queen’s Freddie Mercury, he debuted in 2001 with humorous performances. His early work faced bans for bold lyrics, but he joined YG Entertainment in 2010, setting the stage for Gangnam Style.
After its success, PSY faced pressure to produce another hit. He called this period one of the hardest in his life. Still, he released three more albums and founded P Nation, a label supporting artists like Hyuna and Crush.
“It’s the biggest and greatest trophy of my life. When I do a show, it is my strongest weapon.”
— PSY on Gangnam Style in 2022.
Cultural Impact and Recognition
The South Korean government awarded PSY the 4th Class Order of Cultural Merit for boosting interest in Korea. The song’s phrase, “Oppan Gangnam Style”, entered The Yale Book of Quotations as a top quote of 2012.
Gangnam Style appeared in pop culture, from Fortnite dance moves to a nod in Marvel’s Shang-Chi. Fans still celebrate it. One X user wrote in April 2025:
“I will always have a special relationship to Gangnam style because I think it was like, the same day that I saw the video as I first started thinking about being trans.”
Another shared:
“It takes me back to happy moments of my life, were nothing was more important than to dance like him.”
Why It Stayed Popular
PSY himself was surprised by the song’s reach. He told The New York Times he couldn’t pinpoint why it connected so widely. Experts credit YouTube’s global platform and the song’s catchy, silly vibe.
Gyu Tag Lee, a K-pop professor, noted that YouTube made K-pop mainstream outside East Asia. The song’s success also boosted YG Entertainment’s stock by 50% and DI Corporation, owned by PSY’s father, by 568.8%.
In April 2025, YouTube celebrated its 20th anniversary, listing Gangnam Style among its 18 iconic moments, alongside Baby Shark and Justin Bieber’s Baby. The New York Times highlighted its role in shaping YouTube’s history. PSY continues to perform, with crowds still singing every word at shows.
