Psy recently caught everyone’s attention during a conversation with CNN, describing the value of his ‘Summerswag’ concerts as the “peak of happiness.”
This was part of the new documentary series ‘K-Everything,’ which premiered on CNN International on the afternoon of the 9th (KST).
‘K-Everything’ is a program that highlights the global influence and roots of Korean culture, which currently leads world cultural trends. Hosted by actor and producer Daniel Dae Kim, the four-part series explores various aspects of Korean culture loved worldwide, including K-pop, dramas, food, and beauty.
Psy appeared as a representative interviewee for the K-pop segment on the 9th, discussing the history and recent trends of K-pop with Daniel Dae Kim.
Daniel Dae Kim noted that Psy founded the entertainment agency P Nation following the global success of ‘Gangnam Style’ and mentioned that the annual ‘Summerswag’ concert series accounts for more than 10% of all concert ticket sales in Korea.
When Daniel Dae Kim asked, “‘Summerswag’ has become a legend in Korea. Performing in the middle of the Korean summer heatwave can’t be easy,” Psy replied, “I perform for about four hours per show. Since I was young, I felt happy when others were happy. I think my concerts can be described as the peak of happiness.”
Psy added emotionally, “If I perform in front of 25,000 people, I’m seeing 25,000 faces happy because of me. In those moments, I feel like I could die with no regrets.” This explains why Psy continues to pour such intense energy into his stage performances.
The interview also touched upon the monumental impact of ‘Gangnam Style’ in K-pop history. Daniel Dae Kim introduced the song, saying, “Released in 2012, it broke into the US market and completely changed the status of K-pop. It was the first YouTube video to surpass 1 billion views within six months of release.”
Psy shared a touching anecdote about Tiger JK calling him while crying after pulling over on the side of a highway. Psy remarked, “You know what it means for Korean-Americans to hear a song with lyrics entirely in Korean playing on US radio,” to which Daniel Dae Kim deeply empathized, saying, “Just thinking about it makes me emotional.”
They also discussed the ‘Gangnam Style’ statue in Gangnam. While Psy humbly admitted, “Honestly, personally, I feel shy and that it’s more than I deserve,” Daniel Dae Kim countered, “You fully deserve it. What Psy has achieved through music has significant meaning not just in Korea, but worldwide,” viewing it as proper recognition of his achievements.
When asked how long he has enjoyed the success of ‘Gangnam Style,’ Psy gave a candid confession: “As a singer, I’ve enjoyed it for a lifetime, but as a composer, it is both a dream and a nightmare.” He expressed the pressure and agony of a creator, wondering, “How can I create something with better results than this song?”
This interview went beyond a simple success story, once again confirming the true nature of Psy, the “original K-pop star” who laid the foundation for K-pop’s global success.
Meanwhile, ‘K-Everything,’ featuring Psy in the first episode, premiered at 9 PM on the 9th on CNN International. The four-part series will be streamed weekly for CNN International paid TV subscribers via CNN, CNN Connected TV, and the mobile app. In Korea, it can be watched on Coupang Play, and globally on HBO Max in available regions.
