The era of Psy’s world has just begun

International singer Psy has set a new world record, as his music video “Gentleman” reached the 200 million mark at midnight yesterday.

Existing world record was set by his previous hit “Gangnam Style” on Sept. 18 last year that took 66 days to attract 200 million views. The unprecedented record of 66 days - which had seemed unbeatable - was easily broken by Psy’s follow-up “Gentleman.”

The 200 million views on YouTube attracted by music video “Gentleman” is a new world record achieved in the short period ever - only 10 days after launch.

Meanwhile, a global top singer Justin Bieber, ranked second on YouTube, took 123 days to attract 200 million views with “Baby.” Ranked third, Jennifer Lopez took 94 days with “On The Floor,” and Eminem’s “Love The Way You Lie” took 102 days, ranked fourth. In addition, Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe,” which was last year’s second greatest hit after “Gangnam Style,” took as many as 166 days to attract 200 million views.

The fact that Psy has attracted 200 million views in only 10 days with “Gentleman,” the shortest period ever, is a beginning of a historic milestone. We are seeing an unbelievable amount of increase in reaction videos, parody videos and interpretation videos in response to “Gentleman” on YouTube. No doubt we will see a new milestone in the future as the new era of Psy has just begun. He will remain as the king of global pop culture for at least 10 years from now.

*Han Seung-bum, Ph.D. in political science an director of the Korean Wave Research Institute