BEIJING â€" “Psy. I read about this guy named Psy in Korea,†the U.S. secretary of state, John Kerry, said Saturday, addressing Chinese and overseas reporters at a news media briefing in Beijing where he was visiting to discuss the high tensions on the Korean Peninsula, among other things.
Mr. Kerry didn’t say what he had heard about the chubby, 35-year-old Korean pop star, but merely quipped to a Chinese reporter (identified by a transcript by the State Department as “Ms. Tingi Psy from Caijing Magazine,â€) “No relation thereâ€
It was a small joke (no response from the reporter was recorded in the transcript), but it pointed to an event that same day in Seoul, from where Mr. Kerry had just arrived: a concert by Psy, the Korean pop sensation “who got the world to ride invisible horses†in his smash hit, “Gangnam Style,†as an American newspaper report from there put it.
And it illustrated Psy’s impact in popular culture not just in South Korea and Asia, but around the world. “Gangnam Style†has registered over 1.52 billion hits on YouTube, making it the most-watched video ever there. And with Psy saying of his high-octane concert, Happening, that he hoped it would be heard over the border in North Korea, some people are wondering: could Psy become a peacemaker between the two Koreas
Tensions are high on the Korean Peninsula after weeks of nuclear threats by North Korea.
Psy, who strode around the stage in Seoul in front of 50,000 excited fans (another 160,000 watched his concert live on YouTube), called out to North Korea during the concert against a backdrop of what appeared to be a gray brick wall. Also Psy, who has swept-back black hair and a generous girth, has recently been compared to another young Korean with swept-back black hair and a generous girth: Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader.
Jokes and photographs juxtaposing the two men are circulating online, including one that suggests Mr. Kim, believed to be around 30, could be the jovial Psy, if he would just cheer up and stop threatening nuclear war.
No question, North Korea is on Psy’s mind, just as Psy was, apparently, on John Kerry’s.
“It’s a tragedy. We are the only countries divided right now,†Psy, whose real name is Park Jae-sang, said at a news conference in Seoul ahead of the concert, The Associated Press reported.
He hoped North Koreans would enjoy his new music, he said, adding that his job was to make all people, including North Koreans, laugh. “Hopefully my ‘Gangnam Style,’ my ‘Gentleman,’ my music videos and my choreography,†he said, “they might enjoy them, too.â€
In a story by USA Today from Seoul, two South Koreans discussed the possibility of Psy as a peacemaker - but dismissed it.
“He’s honest, frank and funny,†Jung Seol Hwa, 32, a Seoul-based designer, told the newspaper. But she and her husband, Cho Hyuck Sang, 33, a patent company employee, balked at the suggestion. “I don’t think Psy dares to go there, as it will be too political, and he doesn’t want to be used politically,†Ms. Jung said.
Chong Jung Dawon, 24, a fine arts student, told the paper that the pop star could not visit North Korea as it was too “dangerous.â€
“Kim Jung-un is so stubborn, even Psy couldn’t make him laugh,†she said. “We are so proud of Psy; he is the most famous Korean in the world. The contrast with the North is stark. Psy became a world star all by himself. Kim Jung-un just makes a fool of himself.â€
Of course, some people say Psy does that too, with his comical dancing and mimicry. But on purpose.
What about Psy’s new song, Gentleman, that debuted live at the concert, a hotly anticipated follow-up to Gangnam Style
Expectations were high. Opinions were mixed.
On YouTube, there was plenty of admiration. By Sunday afternoon in Asia the song had registered about 7 million views there, a high number for a short space of time.
“Go Psy,†wrote Kyle Riddell on the song’s YouTube comments section. “This one is really catchy. I guarantee he’s gonna make a big hit again.â€
Others weren’t convinced. Here’s a tweet from someone called Jonny Kennaugh:
