In 2012, Psy became one of the very first Korean artists to gain international viral recognition for “Gangnam Style.” He also holds the title for the first Youtube video to hit 1 billion views back when the video platform was still young. This song has paved the way for more Korean popular culture to become globalized and initiated the term “K-pop.” Psy broke three Guinness world records and rose to international fame at 35. His breakout fame outside of South Korea, where he was already popular, was not just a viral one hit wonder phase. He was a cultural phenomenon that initiated a wave of the globalization of Korean culture to the rest of the world. He had become so famous that there were parodies of him. This wave of Korean pop culture “hallyu” has been in effect since the 1990s but really only made progress this first time. Furthermore, other waves of East Asian influence like Manga and Anime have become popular amount younger generations as well. It has become a cult-like popularity. With the rise of “Hallyu.” One professor at George Mason University in South Korea believes that without him, there would not have been BTS nor BlackPink. A distinctive feature of K-pop bands that have contributed to their growth are their infectious beats, synchronized dance moves, and the eye-catching colors used to create their persona. There are also arguments that had it not been for Psy’s international break out, there would be less popularity surrounding K-dramas, Korean skincare regimens, and Korean tacos and Korean fried chicken.
Not only did Psy’s work break international fame, It also addressed a prevalent issue in South Korea. His “Gangnam Style” addressed a hypocrisy and obsession about presenting oneself through wealth and power. His lyrics and strenuous posturing are undercut by the incongruity of his harshly utilitarian environments: a muddy, neglected-looking riverbank dominated by elevated freeways; a parking garage through which blows a debris-filled windstorm; a public toilet stall. In true Gangnam style, Psy’s character insists on his own magnetism in blind defiance of the void of glamor around him. A similar satire topic is depicted in “Parasite.” A South Korean movie of two families that addressed social critique of rich and poor, “both representative of and imprisoned by its class.” In the film, the poor working class family has a distinct “stench” of labor which is depicted with debt. The poor family tries to overtake the current servers of the rich in a fight for power and money. This same idea of the poor working class against each other is also depicted in Squid games as well. As Forbes puts it, “it[Gangnam Style] is a humorous and ironic commentary on upper-class lifestyle, specifically the lifestyle of those living in the ultra-wealthy Gangnam district of Seoul, Korea.”Gangnam Style
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I think when people think of "Kpop" they always think of the boy and girl groups with multiple members dancing and singing in colorful themes. But many people forget that Gangnam Style was also a Kpop song. And I agree, that without this song and its incredible breakthrough, then the door would not have opened up for Korean culture as a whole (not just Kpop) to become mainstream in this day and age.