Gangnam to make Psy honorary ambassador

Psy

Gangnam-gu, the southern district in Seoul featured in singer Psy’s hit song “Gangnam Style,” plans to invite the star to become an honorary ambassador, the district said Thursday.

In gratitude for raising awareness of Gangnam, the district will award Psy with an appreciation plaque.

The region became famous worldwide as Psy’s “Gangnam Style” gained popularity internationally. The song initially became popular for its funny music video in which Psy performs a “horse-riding dance.”

But the song also advertized Gangnam district, making it a place of curiosity for many foreigners and a must-visit place in Korea.

In a survey conducted by Cosmojin Tour, a travel agency, last week, Psy was voted the Korean celebrity that foreigners most want to meet.

Psy topped a list of celebrities garnering 56 percent of the vote from foreign residents in Korea and tourists. Soccer star Park Ji-sung followed with 17 percent, President Lee Myung-bak with 12 percent and figure skating champion Kim Yu-na with 9 percent.

Psy’s “Gangnam Style” ranked 52 on the iTunes’ “Top Song” chart Monday, the highest position a Korean singer has ever reached in the U.S. music charts.

Meanwhile Gangnam-gu also appointed K-pop boy band Super Junior as new honorary ambassadors following Girl’s Generation and Rain.

The district plans to make Gangnam the tourism “Mecca” of Hallyu, the Korean culture wave. <The Korea Times/Yun Suh-young>

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