# Is Psy's "Gangnam Style" video funny in Korea? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 21, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-psys-gangnam-style-video-funny-in-korea/638458 "2012-10-21T22:37:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-psys-gangnam-style-video-funny-in-korea/638458/1 "2012-10-21T22:37:13Z")
Pretty much that: most people love the music video for “Gangnam Style” because it’s so silly. There’s goofy dancing, bizarre scenarios, and random settings. The song being extremely catchy helps. I know Psy is an established artist in Korea already. I also know we laugh at a lot of East Asian things that aren’t meant to be funny in their home country (I’m looking at you, Japanese television). Is the video for “Gangnam Style” supposed to be funny or is it an example the latter phenomenon? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-psys-gangnam-style-video-funny-in-korea/638458/2 "2012-10-21T22:39:59Z")
It’s supposed to be funny and is considered funny in S. Korea. ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-psys-gangnam-style-video-funny-in-korea/638458/3 "2012-10-21T22:40:28Z")
Thought so! I just watched it for the 100th time and got curious. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-psys-gangnam-style-video-funny-in-korea/638458/4 "2012-10-21T22:44:44Z")
Well, yes, of course. The music video is obviously intended to be funny, and as I understand, the whole song is poking fun at the people from the richest district of Seoul. ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-psys-gangnam-style-video-funny-in-korea/638458/5 "2012-10-21T23:27:33Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > …and as I understand, the whole song is poking fun at the people from the richest district of Seoul. Not exactly. [Psy himself said this](http://www.cnngo.com/seoul/play/interview-psy-gangnam-style-posers-and-hysterical-little-boy-285626) in an interview with CNN. > [@](#): > > “People who are actually from Gangnam never proclaim that they are—it’s only the posers and wannabes that put on these airs and say that they are “Gangnam Style”—so this song is actually poking fun at those kinds of people who are trying so hard to be something that they’re not.” ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-psys-gangnam-style-video-funny-in-korea/638458/6 "2012-10-22T00:26:09Z")
I know almost nothing about Korean pop music, but I’ve heard that the “Gangnam Style” video contains many references to/spoofs of other Korean pop videos and cliches of the genre. If this is true, it’s probably _funnier_, albeit less surreal, in Korea than it is in other places. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-psys-gangnam-style-video-funny-in-korea/638458/7 "2012-10-22T01:49:22Z")
I’ve been to the Gangam area and Starbucks regular size coffee cost me ~5-7USD, by the way. it really is a pretty crazy, expensive area. Oh, and Gangam style is definitely a goofy, jokey song and a comedy video. Weird Al could never really spoof/parody the thing since it already a comedy song. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-psys-gangnam-style-video-funny-in-korea/638458/8 "2012-10-22T01:55:53Z")
I’d like to see the culture where rapping while sitting on the toilet, screaming at women’s asses while they do yoga, running down the street while pretending to ride a horse, and dramatically walking away from a couch that explodes for no reason, all while wearing a powder blue tux, _isn’t_ considered to be funny. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-psys-gangnam-style-video-funny-in-korea/638458/9 "2012-10-22T03:09:36Z")
Moved to Cafe Society from GQ. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-psys-gangnam-style-video-funny-in-korea/638458/10 "2012-10-22T04:48:59Z")
Was a very interesting discussion on Reddit about it recently [here](http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1028ic/is_psy_gangnam_style_guy_serious_southkorean_pop/). Here’s the top-voted comment about the song’s meaning itself: > [@](#): > > First of all, let me start off by saying that the nuance is extremely subtle, so in order for me to explain it, I’m going to have to exaggerate the meaning a little bit. > > Traditionally Korean women prefer men who are a couple years older (This is not necessarily true anymore.) Therefore any decent man who is older is considered a potential mate, whereas women generally considered younger guys just as a kid and not a real man. “Oppa” is also a very friendly term used between close people. Rather than using “시” which is the equivalent of “Mr.”, Psy introduces himself as “oppa” right away so that he can pretend to be closer to the girl than he actually is. > > Basically by calling himself oppa, Psy is saying that the girl should look at him as a potential mate. He’s subtly hitting on her. > > In addition, there is a sort of an age hierarchy because oppa means that Psy is older. The hierarchy in combination with his claim of being of a wealthy Gangnam Style implies, “Hey there little girl, let this big, strong man take care of you.” This fits in really well with the rest of the song because the “Oppa” character in the song is a poser who tries to act all Gangnam (rich, well-educated.) > > Therefore considering all of that together, the phrase “Oppan Gangnam Style” criticizes women for being golddiggers who only like rich guys so they can buy them luxury bags and overpriced coffee. > > On the other hand, it’s also making fun of Korean men who think they can get women simply by flashing and pretending that they have a lot of wealth. > > I realize that that’s a lot of innuendo from just a three word phrase, but “Oppan Gangnam Style” really does imply all of that. Hence the genius of this song. Other phrases in the song also imply just as much, particularly the ones about coffee, but they are extremely difficult to explain to someone who is unaware of Korean culture…and I don’t think I’m articulate enough to explain….sorry. The same guy basically says that Psy can be seen as the equivalent of Eminem, with “Gangnam Style” the equivalent of “Without Me.” Funny lyrics, but there’s a satire/meaning underneath it that separates it from say, Weird Al. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-psys-gangnam-style-video-funny-in-korea/638458/11 "2012-10-22T05:23:14Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Weird Al could never really spoof/parody the thing since it already a comedy song. I thought the same thing about LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know it Video” as well as the “Gangnam Style” video yet people have made parodies of both for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-psys-gangnam-style-video-funny-in-korea/638458/12 "2012-10-22T08:35:22Z")
> [@magnusblitz](#): > > Was a very interesting discussion on Reddit about it recently [here](http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1028ic/is_psy_gangnam_style_guy_serious_southkorean_pop/). So the translation would be something like “Upper East Side Sugardaddy”? Weird. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-psys-gangnam-style-video-funny-in-korea/638458/13 "2012-10-22T08:44:40Z")
I’ve heard that Psy’s father is a successful businessman. What I don’t know is if he ever gave his son any grief for becoming an artist instead of going into business. If he did, I hope he’s proud of the kid now. Even if he turns out to be just a one-shot wonder, not many of those become such a worldwide phenomenon, with visits to make appearances on TV all around the world. Hell, I just saw they did an “Eton Style” video in England. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-psys-gangnam-style-video-funny-in-korea/638458/14 "2012-10-22T08:45:54Z")
It was funny for a week. Now that song is used for every other commercial on TV, for everything from cell phones to kimchi refrigerators. Also that long-winded interpretation of the song is a bit silly. He isn’t subtly hitting on her in the song, he is OVERTLY saying that he is a prime example of a macho man whom any girl would want to date. There is no subtlety about it. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-psys-gangnam-style-video-funny-in-korea/638458/15 "2012-10-22T09:00:49Z")
Say all you want about the subtle digs at rap videos and the dichotomy between reality and dreams that the **video** presents, but the lyrics themselves, at least when translated, are about as subtle as a pickup artist. The verses generally consist of two parts: him talking about the kind of girl he likes and then posturing about how awesome he is (though, at least when translated, can get a bit silly at points – like the whole downing a cup of coffee while it’s still hot thing). Judging by Hazel’s response, this holds in the original as well. ETA: Also, at least the translation I found had the chorus as “Beautiful, lovely, that’s what you are […] Shall we go all the way?” ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-psys-gangnam-style-video-funny-in-korea/638458/16 "2012-10-22T09:16:44Z")
It’s silly in the original Korean as well - it’s supposed to be silly. The video itself is silly because most Korean music videos look slick and sexy and are shot to look like LA or NYC or something. Psy’s video is funny because it is so obviously shot in everyday Seoul. Also, the “go all the way” thing has less of a sexual overtone than it does in the translated English. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-psys-gangnam-style-video-funny-in-korea/638458/17 "2012-10-22T09:19:20Z")
Sorry, another thing that doesn’t make sense in that reddit comment is about how Psy says oppa instead of shi (씨). Psy is referring to himself in that song, and no one refers to themselves as a 씨 no matter what the context. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-psys-gangnam-style-video-funny-in-korea/638458/18 "2012-10-22T12:50:38Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I’ve heard that Psy’s father is a successful businessman. What I don’t know is if he ever gave his son any grief for becoming an artist instead of going into business. [I doubt it](http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/25/entertainment-us-korea-psy-stock-idUSBRE88O03Z20120925), somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-psys-gangnam-style-video-funny-in-korea/638458/19 "2012-10-22T14:41:55Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > [I doubt it](http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/25/entertainment-us-korea-psy-stock-idUSBRE88O03Z20120925), somehow. Well, yeah, _now_, since doubling his father’s stock. But I wonder what his father’s reaction was when he first told him he wanted to be a performer instead of a software tycoon. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-psys-gangnam-style-video-funny-in-korea/638458/20 "2012-10-22T15:18:07Z")
I recently heard an analysis of this song, saying it is the product of what can happen when Korea turns its considerable marketing skills to popular music. It’s the equivalent of Hyundi and other consumer products they have successfully sold to the rest of the world. Sort of took the goofy fun out of it, for me, but of course by now I’m sick of it. [Here’s the story](http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/10/12/162740623/gangnam-style-three-reasons-k-pop-is-taking-over-the-world). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-psys-gangnam-style-video-funny-in-korea/638458.md?page=2)