PSY will appear in a new CNN documentary series exploring the global rise of Korean culture, in which the artist candidly reflects on the enormous success and pressure that followed Gangnam style.
CNN International will premiere the four-part documentary series K-Everything on May 9th. Hosted by Daniel Dae Kim, the series examines how Korean culture has become one of the most influential global entertainment forces through music, television, food, beauty and fandom culture.
PSY appears in the K-pop-focused episode, where he discusses the evolution of the industry and the unprecedented worldwide explosion caused by Gangnam style.
In a preview clip released ahead of the premiere, footage from PSY’s popular brand of summer concerts Summer swag is shown alongside a deeply personal interview segment.
When Daniel Dae Kim asks him how long he has been able to enjoy success Gangnam stylePSY answers honestly: “As a singer, it lasts forever. But as someone who creates music, it’s been both a dream and a nightmare.”
He went on to reveal the creative pressure he felt afterwards: “I kept wondering how I could make something better than this song.”
Published in 2012, Gangnam style became one of the biggest viral moments in the history of the Internet and music. The song turned PSY into a global superstar and introduced many international listeners to K-pop for the first time.
The music video famously became the first video ever to surpass one billion views on YouTube, helping pave the way for the global expansion of Korean pop culture in the years that followed.
The upcoming documentary series will also examine how K-pop has evolved from a regional genre to a global industry fueled by passionate fandoms and the influence of social media.
K-Everything will premiere May 9 at 9pm on CNN International and will subsequently be available via CNN’s digital platforms and mobile app. In South Korea, viewers can also stream the series via Coupang Play.
Sources: CNN International, Star Today
