Psy's 'Gangnam Style' becomes first K-pop song to hit 4 billion views on YouTube

By Lee Gyu-lee

Psy / Courtesy of P Nation

Singer Psy has become the first K-pop artist to score 4 billion views on YouTube with the music video for his mega-hit single, “Gangnam Style,” which became a global sensation in 2012.

P Nation, founded and led by the rapper, announced that the music video has hit a new record Sunday. The highest view record in K-pop comes about eight years and seven months after the music video was released.

“The project started out just to have fun but it suddenly became a big deal,” Psy told local news outlets. "It's been such a pleasure assisting and producing P Nation's artists, but (the new record) reminded me that I am a musician and that I want to come up with a new project to have fun again. I really appreciate it.”

The song created an enormous buzz worldwide after its release, rising to the No. 2 spot on Billboard's Hot 100. That was the highest chart record by a K-pop artist until BTS topped it with “Dynamite” last year.

The music video reached unprecedented milestones in 2012, as the first-ever video to get 1 billion views in YouTube's history.

Psy debuted in 2001 with the album “Psy From The Psycho World” and has released a string of hits, including “BIRD” (2001), “Champion” (2002), and “I LUV IT” (2017).

He founded his label P Nation in 2018 and signed K-pop stars, including Jessi, HyunA and Heize.