CNN of the U.S. on July 15 said in the article titled "Gangnam Style' at 10: How Psy's smash hit sent Korean culture global," "The success of 'Gangnam Style' is considered a major catalyst in the 'Korean wave,' or 'hallyu,' a term describing the recent proliferation of Korean culture internationally."
In an interview with CNN, Psy said, "It's my one and only giant trophy. But if I did go back in time, I think I'd just do it all over again, the same exact way."
"Of course, rankings and breaking records feel great. I was proud of those moments too, but interacting with the audiences, sharing that experience, is something I can't even describe. I feel incredibly proud and content in that moment."
The Los Angeles Times on the same day ran a piece headlined "Remember 'Gangnam Style'? Ten years on, the runaway hit still holds a YouTube record," saying, "Psy's 'Gangnam Style,' the hit song no one could escape back in 2012, still continues to charm."
National Public Radio of the U.S. also covered the song's 10th anniversary in its program "Morning Edition," saying, "Since 'Gangnam Style,' South Korea has become a pop cultural force here in the U.S. Think about the K-pop group BTS, Netflix's 'Squid Game' or the film 'Parasite,' which became the first non-English language film to win the best picture Oscar."
NBC on July 16 highlighted that "Gangnam Style" was the first video to top a billion views on YouTube and mentioned that dozens of other music videos have since topped a billion views, spanning genres and generations, since Psy's milestone.
In a statement to YouTube, Psy said, "Being the first artist to reach one billion views on YouTube was an extraordinary feeling 10 years ago and it still is today," adding, "To have played a role in paving the way for music of all kinds to transcend borders is a true honor."
As the title song of Psy's sixth studio album, "Gangnam Style" was released on July 15, 2012, and went on to become the first video on YouTube to reach a billion views. He is also the first K-pop act to have a song stay at No. 2 on the Billboard 100 singles' chart for seven consecutive weeks.
