14 years, 6 billion views: 'Gangnam Style' still won't quit

Nearly a decade and a half after its release, Psy’s breakout hit became the first K-pop video to surpass 6 billion views on YouTube, underscoring its lasting global appeal.

News Team
Published
The music video for Psy’s “Gangnam Style” (2012) captured from YouTube

Singer Psy’s global hit "Gangnam Style" (2012) has become the first K-pop video to surpass 6 billion views on YouTube, his agency P Nation said Monday.

The music video, released in July 2012, crossed the milestone on Friday afternoon. It added another 1 billion views in about two years and seven months since hitting 5 billion in December 2023.

"Gangnam Style" became a worldwide sensation as its easy-to-follow horse-riding dance, addictive chorus and comedic music video spread rapidly across social media.

Related Article

In December 2012, it became the first video ever to reach 1 billion views on YouTube. It also spent seven consecutive weeks at No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 — a run widely credited with helping drive K-pop’s global rise.

“This is a symbolic milestone that shows the enduring power of content loved across borders and generations,” P Nation said.

Psy, whose real name is Park Jae-sang, debuted in 2001 with his first studio album, "Psy From The Psycho World!" Now 48, he remains one of Korea's most enduring live performers, known for high-energy stage shows built around his own songs.

He founded and runs the label P Nation, and each summer he headlines his signature concert series, currently touring as "Summer Swag 2026," with a stop in Daegu among the upcoming dates.


BY KIM HYON-DONG [kim.hayoon1@joongang.co.kr]

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

p nation k-pop gangnam style entertainment youtube billboard hot 100 billboard psy views

Read more

See more articles