I currently teach at a high school with a lot of Korean students, and last year I taught at a school in K-town (but with only a few Korean students). I drive through K-town every day. I am always struck at the distinct and elegant presentation made by Korean stores, cafes, restaurants, hotels, and other establishments. This same quality is found in many of my students. Many of the girls are elegant and composed, while many of the boys are exuberant and impish like the video by PSY. This video captures one aspect of Korean culture very vividly. It's hard to resist.
For those who have not heard this song yet and did not see SNL, this is the most popular Korean cultural phenomenon. Gangnam Style is a 2012 dance pop single written and performed by Korean singer Park Jae Sung, better known by his stage name PSY. Since the release of the video, this past summer, it has gained more than 8 million views in the span of two weeks and spawned numerous parodies on YouTube. The basic premise of the song is about a self-proclaimed hotshot looking for “the perfect girlfriend who knows when to be refined and when to get wild.” The refrain of the song, “Oppan Gangnam Style,” can be translated as “Your Boy’s "Gangnam Style” with PSY referring to himself as such. Gangnam Style” is a Korean catchphrase referring to the upscale fashion and lavish lifestyle associated with trendsetters in Seoul’s Gangnam district, which is considered the most affluent part of the metropolitan area. Below is a link to the video.
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