Why was the “Gangnam Style” music video important in YouTube history?

The music video for the song "Gangnam Style" by the South Korean artist PSY is a landmark in YouTube history because it was the first video of any kind to surpass one billion views on the platform.12

Released in 2012, the video became a viral sensation, propelled by its humorous content—specifically PSY’s distinctive "horse-riding" dance—and widespread sharing across social media platforms. Its unprecedented success served as a major turning point for K-pop, demonstrating the power of the digital era to bring South Korean music to a global audience and establishing that the country had modern, catchy music to offer the world. The video eventually went on to surpass three billion views, cementing its status as a pivotal moment in the history of online media.12