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PSY’s Anti-American Protest Past Surfaces; Performer Issues Apology

Truth rating: 10

4:46 pm, December 7th, 2012

(GettyImages.com)

Could PSY’s past be coming back to haunt him?

The South Korean sensation, whose “Gangnam Style” has become the most-watched video in YouTube history, is under fire for expressing anti-American military sentiments about a decade ago.

On Friday, it was reported that back in 2002, PSY protested the presence of American troops in South Korea by smashing a miniature tank onstage during a concert.

More strikingly, in 2004, the artist (whose real name is Park Jae-sang) participated in protests following the death of a Korean missionary in Iraq.

Performing a Korean rock band’s song called “Dear American,” PSY rapped lyrics including, “Kill those f**king Yankees who have been torturing Iraqi captives / Kill those f**king Yankees who ordered them to torture. Kill their daughters, mothers, daughters-in-law and fathers / Kill them all slowly and painfully.”

Wow.

As many observers have pointed out, the early 2000s was a period of widespread anti-American sentiment in South Korea, especially in terms of opposition to U.S. military action.

But the revelation that PSY, until now known primarily in America for a flamboyantly goofy dance, expressed such violent anti-American political views has made significant waves.

Late Friday, PSY made a statement and apologized:

“As a proud South Korean who was educated in the United States and lived there for a very significant part of my life, I understand the sacrifices American servicemen and women have made to protect freedom and democracy in my country and around the world. The song I featured on in question from eight years ago – was part of a deeply emotional reaction to the war in Iraq and the killing of two Korean schoolgirls that was part of the overall antiwar sentiment shared by others around the world at that time. While I’m grateful for the freedom to express one’s self, I’ve learned there are limits to what language is appropriate and I’m deeply sorry for how these lyrics could be interpreted. I will forever be sorry for any pain I have caused by those words.

“I have been honored to perform in front of American soldiers in recent months – including an appearance on the Jay Leno show specifically for them — and I hope they and all Americans can accept my apology. While it’s important that we express our opinions, I deeply regret the inflammatory and inappropriate language I used to do so. In my music, I try to give people a release, a reason to smile. I have learned that thru music, our universal language we can all come together as a culture of humanity and I hope that you will accept my apology.”

What do you think of PSY’s apology?

Do his previous protest actions change your opinion of his music?

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  • dannehlicious

    So what? It was a DECADE ago, and that’s how he felt at the time. (Maybe now, who knows) It’s 2012, move on.

  • Regina1180

    Of course, make millions off of the country that you’d like to see go down in flames. Do people not realize that the past ALWAYS comes back to bite them? Now I have another reason to hate this garbage.

  • missylalawhite

    I don’t hate him for it, obviously that’s how many felt at that time & he was expressing his anger. It was nearly 10 years ago, it’s obvious he doesn’t feel the same way now. Get over it and move on.

  • Jamie

    Still love him. :) Everyone does or says things they regret throughout their lives. Let it go.

  • PaulieA

    The US has pissed off a lot of countries over the years and Psy isn’t the first to wish bad on them….not saying it was right but whatever, freedom of speech and opinion is fine by me, I’ll still pretend to ride a horse when that song comes on :)

  • matt

    I think he should apologize to all of the people of America and ask for redemption

  • Guest

    He’s royally screwed now..

  • Randomperson

    You are a dumb ass…it doesn’t matter if it was in the past. He could still be feeling the same way and I’m sorry but I wouldn’t want my kids to be paying for someone who said such horrible things about America and it’s soldiers. I’m so sick of people forgetting that if it weren’t for those soldiers then we would all be screwed. So STFU!

  • Andrew

    All of you are narrow-minded morons, who are feeding off other peoples’ misfortunes. You are just looking for a scapegoat, like you haters always do. Whenever someone is doing great, you have to cling to every little bit of material that could have a negative effect on them.
    So fucking what if that’s what he did? If he did it to express an opinion, why isn’t he allowed?
    He clearly said that it was because of the Korean girls that got killed by US attacks in Iraq.
    So basically you biased motherfuckers are justifying American soldiers killing *anyone* in Iraq, but when you get fired upon in return, suddenly you become sensitive and hate on the guy for expressing it? The war back then was everything BUT justified. While many soldiers were serving honorably and valiantly, many others were everything BUT saints, that have done enough atrocities to be called exactly what the lyrics say.
    I am glad you guys are bitter and mad about this and truly hope you live the rest of your days just as badly.
    All of you who suddenly change your opinion of him because of that are a bunch of ignorant morons with no objective thought whatsoever.

  • Andrew P.

    Hi, Just my 2 cents but I’m afraid you have failed to research before you wantonly attacked Psy’s statement. Back when he said this two S Korean School girls were run over and the service men acquitted. A Korean missionary was captured and killed because the U.S. and S Korea had an alliance and S Korea sent troops to help the U.S. so in reality he wasn’t attacking all Americans with this protest. He was attacking those who torture and if your alright with torture then I honestly don’t see the logic in you calling someone a dumb-ass.

  • Glenn

    Hi Andrew. Thank you for the context. It explains a lot and helps me to see it as a protest song. Perhaps vulgar, but a protest song none the less. As for myself, I was at first taken back by “Kill their daughters, mothers, daughters-in-law and fathers / Kill them all slowly and painfully.” After all, why bring in innocent people?” But given that “two S Korean School girls were run over” it makes much more sense.

  • http://www.facebook.com/desertraider91 Chad Phriday

    He did. Last week

  • Martina

    First of all, I don’t know why he needs to apologise!? Second of all, I would actually respect him, if he stand up for his beliefs.
    I guess that everyone has a certain price.
    Very sad….

  • Martina

    We would be ALL screwed?! Seriously?! Well, it’s safe to say that we are ALL screwed for US politics!

    Wake up my dear, there are other countries outside your borders, and believe it or not, your army was not invited there, but sent by your government because of number of interests.

  • fjeie

    and who’s feeding him the money? i don’t agree with psy’s past sentiments but he had every right to say what he wanted. quite a few people had choice words to say about this country back then

  • fjiejfw

    only for business’s sake. like he really has to think all americans were saints during the war in iraq? he really shouldn’t have to apologize to anyone for his sentiments.

  • Petty Officer D

    I have served honorably, and never did anything that hurt people. I have read all the comments on this topic, and we can all agree it is emotionally charged. I hate what he said, but as an American Military member I have to respect his freedom to be able to do so. That is what we fight for, love him or hate him, he can say what ever he wants, he is entitled to do so. There is nothing that we say on a blog that will change anything that has been said. If you are a military member out there and offended by what he said, just remember we vounteered to serve to protect people’s freedoms even if it is to hate us, everyone is entitled to an opinion.

  • http://www.facebook.com/ronnel.palacio.9 Ronnel Palacio

    It is all about money why Psy apologizing, after the gangnam style popularity ends, Psy may Fuck you again america!!!! hahaha

  • http://www.facebook.com/diane.mantzaris Diane Mantzaris

    Shouldn’t apologise at all. What the US military is doing to Iraqis held in detention without trial in Guantanamo for example is criminal and should have been closed by now for that reason! Music shouldn’t be censored and, and it is close to world opinion- get used to it.

  • MikeinVa

    Well, If Michele Obama was proud to be an American for the very first time in 2009. I guess PSY can be forgiven.

  • Dr Devron

    What really amazes me is that this is a blog to discuss what a popstar said rapping ten years ago. You got people on here bashing American foreign policy and and the war. This isn’t a medium for that, it is your opinion on what a so called popstar said. Maybe you uneducated pea brains should actually read the article before posting your nonsensicle responses. I am not even an American and I can tell that I am clearly the smartest person to post a reply. Try “Hooked on Phonics”, and reading comprehension classes then maybe you can post a response that borders on something more then a few short cut key strokes. Most of you subhuman Tweens and Spanglish speakers need to really get a life, try reading a book instead of cutting school to play Xbox and actually go school. You might enrich your meaningless life by educating your self instead spewing hate responses to something you have no clue about.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000071288589 Derek Wilson

    Moron, do some research. He didn’t say “two Korean girls got killed in Iraq because of US attacks.” The two things he listed were separate and far apart. Learn to think before you comment.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000071288589 Derek Wilson

    He has to apologize becuase he offended everyone in the American Military and everyone in their familes. I don’t suppose it would bother you at all if he sang about killign you and your family slowly and painfully?

  • Jack Lynch

    “It is close to world opinion…” That is the funniest thing I have read in weeks, I spit my coffee out…..ha ha ha yeah if there is ever a world opinion something good has happened. People can’t get along in their own countries, World Opinion, idiot!

  • ron burgundy

    yeah yeah, F%^& America. now where is my MEDICAID!

  • kaloalo

    that was 10 years ago…
    i mean although those lyrics were pretty harsh, america was in a different place back then with the war just starting

  • aria

    “Kill their daughters, mothers, daughters-in-law and fathers / Kill them all slowly and painfully.”…I don’t get it.

  • Mr Sir

    Oops.

  • BeingHonest

    GO BACK TO KOREA!!! I’m tired of these damn ch!nks trying to take over our country

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/FFXFSGS7KTKEU5ETWJJB2JP6IM ZZZZZZZZ

    Yeah, he’s sorry he’s a one-hit wonder. You don’t say those kinds of things about American soldiers and their families and expect Americans to buy your music. GTFOOH.

  • GeekGamerGirl

    Not for nothing he only BECAME popular in the US because of Gangnam Style. But, PSY has been a well know name overseas for awhile. So, hate the music fine but, to get mad at him for his political stance 10 years ago is asinine.

  • GeekGamerGirl

    It’s amazing how people want to throw stones at him for what he did/said (10 years ago) but, then throw ‘freedom of speech’ out when someone (or a troll) calls them out for saying something stupid. In 1966 John Lennon was misquoted (‘More popular than Jesus’) and yet here we are almost 50 years later and the Beatles (as a group and as solo artists) are still loved even after backlash. N.W.A. with group members Dr. Dre and Ice Cube ‘Fuck da police’ anyone? What’s good for the goose is good for the gander even if the gander is foreign. There are artists (actor and musician) in America who say messed up things about other countries and there are American people who stand behind them. Are the people that are slinging vile comments mad at what he said or just mad that he is foreign and said it? Plus, it was in a rap so do you also comment on Eminem threads and hate on him because he rapped about killing his mom and wife or do you write it off as him being a ‘troubled artist?’

  • GeekGamerGirl

    Back under your bridge racist troll

  • GeekGamerGirl

    So it doesn’t matter that he said it 10 years ago? Do you watch SVU with Ice-T or buy anything from Dr. Dre? Because like 10+ years ago they both talked about killing police officers or is that okay to you because they were Americans rapping about killing other Americans?

  • http://twitter.com/lorileeky Lori Lee

    His true colors came out…

  • The Truth

    Here’s the thing. Psy sang this song because he was featured as the guest singer for another band that was just making a point about how an American tank that ran over two Korean girls and the trial – held by Americans – let those failures of a tank driver off without any repercussions.

  • The Truth

    Why are you hating on Psy because he sang this one song back in 2004? It’s amazing, the capacity of Americans’ brains. They just completely forgot how they were all praising this guy for another song just a few days ago.

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