The South Korean singer who released the global hit “Gangnam Style” in 2012 was Psy.
Born Park Jae-sang, Psy released the song on July 15, 2012, as the lead single from his sixth album, Psy 6 (Six Rules), Part 1. Its title refers to the wealthy, fashionable lifestyle associated with Seoul’s Gangnam district.
The song became an international phenomenon largely through its humorous music video and instantly recognizable “horse-riding” dance. It was performed in Korean, yet its visual comedy and rhythmic hook helped it cross language barriers. “Gangnam Style” reached No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and topped charts in more than 30 countries.
A common mix-up is confusing Psy with other major Korean performers such as Rain or G-Dragon. Psy was already an established Korean entertainer, but this song made him a worldwide pop-culture figure and helped introduce K-pop to a much larger global audience.