'Gangnam Style' tops British single chart
K-pop viral phenomenon Psy's hit "Gangnam Style" topped the formal British music chart on Sunday (local time) for the first time for a Korean singer, a company in charge of compiling the chart said.
According to the Official Chart Company, Psy jumped to No. 1 on the British Official Singles Chart with his popular track and famous horse-riding dance, after the song debuted on the chart six weeks ago.
"He's done it! Gangnam Style fever has swept the globe this month and today officially conquers the U.K., galloping all the way to Number 1 on the Official Singles Chart," the company said on its Web site.
Sales of the tune soared by 73 percent over the course of the week to defeat last week's top single "Hall of Fame" by The Script, the company said.
Psy plans to celebrate conquering the chart by visiting Britain, according to the company.
"Thanks to all the U.K. fans out there for supporting me and 'Gangnam Style.' Guess what? I am coming!" the company quoted the 35-year-old singer as saying.
The catchy song along with peppy horse-riding moves earned second place on Billboard's Hot 100 chart last week, with the track's official YouTube video having been viewed more than 300 million times so far.
"If the current trend of the fast-spreading popularity contines, Psy will be able to rise to the top of this week's Billboard chart. That will make him the first Asian singer to have swept over the world's two major pop markets," said Park Eun-seok, a pop culture expert.
Among Asian entertainers, the previous record was set by Japanese singer Kyu Sakamoto with his international hit "Sukiyaki," which reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks in 1963 and was sixth place on the British Chart.
In a news conference last week after his trip to the United States, Psy, whose real name is Park Jae-sang, said he will "perform 'Gangnam Style' topless in a place where everyone can watch if he tops the Billboard chart."
On the back of the popularity of Gangnam Style, his 2010 song titled "Right Now" also has come into the spotlight, with the music video drawing six million views as of Monday. (Yonhap)