The singer PSY described the value of his “SUMMER SWAG” (흠뻑쇼) concert as being “the peak of happiness.”
On May 9 (Korean time), the new documentary series “K-EVERYTHING” aired for the first time on CNN INTERNATIONAL.
Hosted by actor and producer DANIEL DAE KIM, “K-EVERYTHING” is a program that highlights the global influence and roots of Korean culture, which currently leads global cultural trends. Through four episodes, the show explores the entirety of Korean culture loved worldwide, including K-pop, dramas, food, and beauty.
PSY appeared as an iconic interviewee for the K-pop section. DANIEL DAE KIM explained that by building on the planetary success of “Gangnam style”, PSY founded his entertainment agency P NATION, and that his annual concert series “SUMMER SWAG” represents more than 10% of total show ticket sales in Korea.
When DANIEL DAE KIM pointed out that “‘SUMMER SWAG’ has become a legend in Korea” and that “performing under the heatwave of the Korean summer is no easy feat,” PSY replied: “Each concert lasts about four hours. When I was young, seeing others happy made me happy too.” He added: “I think my concert can be described as the peak of happiness.”
He continued with emotion:
“If I play in front of 25,000 spectators, I see 25,000 faces made happy because of me right before my eyes. At that moment, I truly tell myself that I could die without any regrets.”
Anecdotes about “Gangnam style”, a track that left a monumental footprint in the history of K-pop, were also shared. DANIEL DAE KIM introduced the song by stating: “Released in 2012, it broke into the American market and completely changed the status of K-pop. It surpassed one billion views on YouTube only six months after its release, becoming the first video in the platform’s history to reach that record.”
On this subject, PSY recounted how TIGER JK had called him crying after pulling his car over to the side of a highway: “You know what it represents for Korean-Americans to hear a song with all its lyrics in Korean playing on American radio.” DANIEL DAE KIM agreed, confessing that he was “overwhelmed just thinking about it.”
They also exchanged views on the “Gangnam style” statue erected in Gangnam. Although PSY showed humility by stating that “honestly, personally, it’s embarrassing and excessive,” DANIEL DAE KIM affirmed that he “fully deserved it,” believing that what PSY achieved through his music has a crucial significance beyond Korea, on a global scale.
Finally, when asked how long he enjoyed the success of “Gangnam style”, PSY replied: “As a singer, I enjoy it all my life, but as a songwriter, it is both a dream and a nightmare. How could I create a work better than this one?”
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: CNN Original K-Everything
