Psy: From global phenomenon Gangnam Style to scandal spiral

The news that famous singer Psy was arrested for using a sedative on the government's banned list has caused public confusion. He used to be a "monument" of Kpop but is now involved in many scandals.

In the Korean music industry, there are few artists who have left a special mark like Psy. The male singer's real name is Park Jae Sang, born in 1977. With a unique and somewhat eccentric style, he became a global icon thanks to the hit Gangnam Style in 2012. However, along with the halo, Psy's life and career are also associated with many scandals, and then on August 27, the male singer continued to face a crisis when he was prosecuted for allegedly violating the law related to psychotropic drugs.

Career Beginnings: The K-Pop Freak

Psy debuted in the Korean music scene in 2001 with his first rap album "From the Psycho World". The product immediately caused him to be heavily criticized for its "sensitive" content, which was completely different from the idol music that was dominating at that time. However, Psy did not change himself because of that.

He calls himself a "musical psychopath" who pursues a different path. The songs Champion (2002), Father (2005), Right Now (2010)... helped him maintain his reputation, but Psy is still only considered a "personality artist" within Korea, and has not really risen to international prominence.

"Gangnam Style" – The turning point that changed my life

In 2012, the song Gangnam Style was released, creating an unprecedented global phenomenon. With its catchy melody, lyrics satirizing the hedonistic culture of Seoul's upper class, and especially the humorous horse-riding dance, the MV quickly spread around the world.

Gangnam Style became the first music video in YouTube history to reach 1 billion views, opening a new era for the platform. Psy was invited to perform with the "Queen of Pop" Madonna in New York. He once stood on stage in front of US President Barack Obama, and stirred up a crowd of more than 20,000 spectators at the foot of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

This was also the first time a K-pop artist entered the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, thereby contributing to the expansion of the Hallyu wave globally. In 2012, the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism ranked Psy in the top 10 most influential Koreans.

Pressure after success and decline

Gangnam Style made Psy a global star, but it also put him under enormous pressure. "Everywhere I went, people kept asking me to perform Gangnam Style. It was both the peak and the bottom," Psy admitted in a 2017 interview.

After that success, Psy continued to release many products such as Gentleman (2013) - creating a certain effect but unable to repeat the old success. The following albums, the latest of which is Psy 9th (2022), received domestic attention but did not resonate internationally. In the context of Kpop constantly appearing new generations of idols such as BTS, BLACKPINK, NewJeans..., Psy gradually lost his position on the global music map.

Shifting to the role of "manager"

No longer maintaining his position as a top star, Psy chose to stabilize his career domestically. Since 2019, he founded the entertainment company P NATION, aiming to develop and manage young artists. Some prominent faces that used to be under P NATION include HyunA, DAWN, Jessi, Crush...

In parallel, Psy holds annual concerts such as Summer Swag, which still attract huge domestic audiences. Thanks to that, he maintains his influence in Korea even though he is no longer an international phenomenon.

Personal scandals: Black marks on career

Psy has been involved in scandals since his debut. In 2001, he was arrested for drug possession and had to pay a fine to be released on bail. In a strict entertainment society like Korea, this scandal severely damaged Psy's image.

He is also a rare celebrity who had to serve in the military for 4 years. He initially enlisted in 2003, but was later exposed for "secretly performing to earn money" and failing to complete his duties. As a result, Psy was forced to re-enlist and completed his full service until 2009.

In addition, Psy was involved in several major strikes and was criticized for his statements. However, the explosion of Gangnam Style later somewhat erased the past.

Sharing about that period, Psy frankly said: "Korean society always requires artists to maintain a moral image. I have been through big trouble three times, and for many other singers, that could have been the end of their careers. I am lucky because I still have the opportunity to come back."

Latest prosecution: The spiral of trouble has not ended

On August 27, the Korean press reported that Psy was prosecuted on suspicion of illegally receiving psychotropic drugs. According to the Seodaemun Police Department (Seoul), since 2022, the male singer is suspected of receiving prescriptions at a general hospital without directly visiting. Notably, Psy did not personally go to the hospital to get the drugs, but authorized his manager to do so on his behalf.

P NATION later confirmed that Psy was being treated for a chronic sleep disorder and was taking medication as prescribed by his doctor. However, the company apologized to the public for allowing his manager to pick up the medication, which was a violation. At the same time, they denied the accusation that Psy used someone else's identity to get the prescription.

The doctor who treated Psy is also under investigation. He denied prescribing the medicine illegally and said it was just a form of "remote treatment". However, the authorities are still investigating. The case has shocked the Korean public, because Psy is a familiar artist, associated with the youthful memories of many people through the dance Gangnam Style.

More than a decade after Gangnam Style took the world by storm, Psy's image today is far different from his heyday. To many young audiences, he is a "man of the past", a symbol of a bygone trend. But to the generation that experienced the 2012 fever, Psy is still an iconic artist, who helped pave the way for Kpop to achieve the global status it has today.

Psy's career is like a special curve: from an artist criticized as "eccentric", to becoming a world phenomenon, then slowing down, losing his position and falling into a spiral of scandal. However, what he left behind with Gangnam Style is undeniable - a song that marked a turning point in the history of Kpop.

Although the future of his personal career is still uncertain, one thing is certain: Psy will forever be remembered as the man who made the whole world dance to Gangnam Style – a phenomenon that, to this day, no other Kpop artist has been able to recreate in the true sense.

PSY "King of Gangnam Style" was arrested for investigation, bowed his head to apologize, and said exactly 1 sentence? An chi13:50:35 28/08/2025PSY, the owner of the hit Gangnam Style, was arrested by Korean police and an investigation was opened regarding the long-term use of illegal psychotropic drugs, causing a stir in public opinion nationwide.