PSY’s Gangnam Style has become the first K-pop music video to reach 6 billion views on YouTube. The milestone was formally announced on Monday, July 20, after the video crossed the mark late the previous week.
The announcement adds another major achievement to a song that reshaped global pop culture. Released in July 2012, Gangnam Style became an international hit through its energetic performance, colorful video and instantly recognizable horse-riding dance.
The video made YouTube history in December 2012 when it became the first upload on the platform to reach 1 billion views. The song also climbed to No. 2 on the U.S. singles chart, giving PSY worldwide recognition and bringing more international attention to South Korean pop music.
Gangnam Style continued gaining views long after its original viral run. It reached 2 billion views in 2014 and passed several more billion-view milestones over the following years.
Nearly 14 years after its release, the video remains one of the most recognizable music clips of the digital era.