Full Breakdown
PSY’s “Gangnam Style” Becomes First K-Pop Video to Surpass 6 Billion YouTube Views
7/21/2026, 12:31:45 PM
Milestone Achievement
On July 20, the music video for PSY’s 2009 single “Gangnam Style” passed the 6 billion-view threshold on YouTube, marking the first K-pop video to reach that level. The milestone occurs almost exactly 14 years after the video’s original upload, underscoring its enduring popularity.
Historical Context
“Gangnam Style” was the inaugural YouTube upload to achieve one billion views, establishing the “Billion Views Club.” Its success paved the way for later K-pop acts such as BTS and BLACKPINK to attain global mainstream exposure. The video’s choreography and comedic scenes—such as PSY dancing alone in a horse stable and performing a leg-between-two-people routine—became cultural touchstones that contributed to its viral spread.
Viewership Data
- Total views: > 6 billion as of July 20.
- Initial milestone: First video ever to reach one billion views (year of upload).
- Chart performance: Reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2012.
- Subsequent K-pop entries in the “Billion Views Club”: BTS’s “Dynamite” and “Butter,” BLACKPINK’s “Pink Venom” and “How You Like That.”
Impact on K-Pop’s Global Reach
The video’s sustained viewership highlights PSY’s role in “setting the stage for modern K-pop to cross over into the global mainstream,” according to Billboard. The achievement reinforces the genre’s capacity to generate long-term digital engagement, influencing how newer acts approach visual storytelling and viral marketing. PSY’s most recent album, *PSY 9th*, was released in 2022, indicating continued activity beyond the 2009 hit.
What’s Next
Billboard notes that the video remains publicly accessible, inviting additional views that will further extend its record-breaking trajectory.
