ArtistP Nation
PSY
PSY (Park Jae-sang, 박재상) is a South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer who permanently altered K-pop with "Gangnam Style" in 2012. The track became the first YouTube video to reach one billion views, reached the top five in over 30 countries, and spent five weeks at number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
Born December 31, 1977, into a wealthy Gangnam District family, PSY studied briefly at Boston University and Berklee College of Music before returning to Seoul. His debut (2001) attracted controversy. Military service interrupted his career twice, but by PSY 5 (2008), he had built a devoted domestic following. He signed with YG Entertainment in 2011, and in 2012, Gangnam Style turned him into the most recognized Korean entertainer in the world. The follow-up "Gentleman" (2013) broke the 24-hour YouTube views record.
In 2019, PSY founded P Nation, signing artists including HyunA, Jessi, and Crush. His eighth album PSY 9th dropped in 2022. Summer Swag -- the annual outdoor concert series he launched in 2012 -- returned in 2025 with 16 shows across nine cities.
Recipient of the Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit (2012), a World Music Award, and ten MAMA Awards.
4 articles6 creditsDebut: January 1, 2001South Korean
Gallery
Discography
2022
PSY 9thAlbum
Lead
2022
That That (prod. & feat. SUGA of BTS)Single
LeadSUGA
2017
PSY 8th 4X2=8Album
Lead
2013
GentlemanSingle
Lead
2012
PSY 6 (Six Rules), Part 1Album
Lead
2012
Gangnam StyleSingle
Lead
Fans Also Ask
Why was 'Gangnam Style' historically significant?
Released in July 2012, Gangnam Style became the first YouTube video to reach one billion views (December 2012) and later two billion (May 2014), forcing the platform to upgrade its view counter. The song spent five weeks at number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top 10 in over 30 countries simultaneously. Its horse-riding choreography became one of the most recognised pop culture moments of the decade and proved that non-English language music could achieve genuine mainstream global crossover.
What is PSY's educational background?
PSY enrolled at Boston University to study business administration, then transferred to Berklee College of Music to pursue music -- but dropped out of both to return to South Korea and launch his recording career. His 2001 debut album drew immediate controversy for adult content, leading to a broadcast ban and government scrutiny. The path from Boston dropout to global pop phenomenon took just over a decade.
What is P Nation and who are its artists?
P Nation (피네이션) is PSY's own record label and management company, founded in 2019 after he departed YG Entertainment. Built to nurture artists with unconventional identities and strong creative independence, the roster has included Jessi, HyunA, EDawn, TNX, and others. PSY serves as CEO while remaining an active recording artist under the label himself.
What has PSY released beyond 'Gangnam Style'?
PSY followed Gangnam Style with the similarly successful Gentleman (2013). Subsequent albums PSY 7th (2015), 4X2=8 (2017), and PSY 9th (2022) maintained strong domestic performance. His 2022 collaboration with BTS's SUGA -- That That -- reached number one on Korean charts and introduced him to a new generation of K-pop listeners. His annual Summer Swag outdoor concert series, launched in 2012, remains one of South Korea's most attended summer events.
What cultural recognition has PSY received?
PSY was awarded the Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit by the South Korean government in 2012, the year Gangnam Style went global. He has received World Music Awards and ten MAMA Awards across his career. Beyond chart success, he is credited with proving that Korean artists could achieve genuine worldwide mainstream recognition -- a legacy whose significance only grew as the broader K-pop wave expanded internationally in the years that followed.
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