Does PSY Still Make Music? Inside the Evolution of the “Gangnam Style” Icon

Back in 2012, it was practically impossible to escape the galloping horse dance. Propelled by YouTube’s very first billion-view video, PSY’s “Gangnam Style” transformed Park Jae-sang into an overnight global phenomenon, turning him into a household name from Seoul to New York.

More than a decade later, the pop culture landscape has shifted dramatically, and K-pop has conquered the globe in ways few could have predicted. But what happened to the man who kicked the door open? Does PSY still make music?

The short answer is: Yes, absolutely—though his role in the music industry has expanded far beyond just being a chart-topping pop star.

Moving Beyond the Viral Wave

While many Western audiences remember PSY as a one-hit wonder, in South Korea, he was already a massive, boundary-pushing star long before “Gangnam Style”. Debuting in 2001 with Psy From The Psycho World!, he built a career on satirical lyrics, high-energy dance tracks, and a notoriously rebellious stage presence.

After the whirlwind global success of “Gangnam Style” and follow-up hits like “Gentleman” and “Daddy,” PSY continued to release music under YG Entertainment before eventually parting ways to carve out a new path.

Rather than fading into retirement, PSY doubled down on his passion for the industry. In 2019, he founded his own entertainment agency and label, P NATION.

PSY’s Latest Musical Era: Psy 9th and “That That”

PSY proved he still knows how to command the global charts when he released his ninth full-length studio album, aptly titled Psy 9th, in April 2022.

The album served as a masterclass in collaboration, blending PSY’s signature comedic flair with modern K-pop royalty. The lead single, “That That,” was co-produced by and featured Suga of BTS. The infectious track became a massive international hit, proving that PSY’s distinct brand of energetic dance music still resonated deeply with old fans and a brand-new generation of K-pop listeners.

Psy 9th also featured an all-star roster of guest artists, including:

• Crush
• Heize
• Tablo (of Epik High)
• Hwasa (of Mamamoo)
• Jessi
• Sung Si-kyung

The album highlighted that PSY hadn’t lost his ear for catchy hooks, nor his ability to bring diverse musical heavyweights together.

Mogul, Mentor, and Live Show Legend

Today, PSY divides his time between being a recording artist, a label executive, and an unstoppable live performer.

As the head of P NATION, he has spent recent years discovering, signing, and mentoring prominent artists—such as Crush, Heize, and Swings—shaping the careers of the next wave of Korean talent.

Meanwhile, if you want to see PSY in his true element, you look to the stage. He is legendary in South Korea for his marathon concert series, most notably his annual “Summer Swag” (Heukshow) tours. These massive, stadium-filling summer concerts see him performing for hours under cascades of water, proving that his legendary stamina and showmanship haven’t dimmed a bit. Whether he’s headlining major festivals or returning to his roots for special homecoming performances like the Gangnam Festival, PSY remains a vibrant, active force in music.

The Verdict

PSY may no longer be chasing the exact viral lightning-in-a-bottle moment of 2012, but he never actually left the music business. Whether he is dropping star-studded studio albums, running a major label, or tearing up the stage at a packed summer festival, PSY is still very much making music on his own terms—proving he is an enduring fixture of Korean pop culture rather than a fleeting internet meme.