The return of K-pop’s ‘bad boy’ Psy: his BTS Suga collaboration Take That is a hit, but how much do you know about then Gangnam Style singer’s wealthy family and controversial early career?
- After a five-year hiatus, Psy has returned with new album ‘Psy 9th’, which features K-pop icons from Bae Suzy and Zico to Jessi and Tablo of Epik High
- Many know Psy for his viral invisible horse dance, but beyond music, he is also the founder of P Nation and hails from wealth – his father is Park Won-ho of Di-Corp
Born Park Jae-sang, Psy’s stage name is short for “psycho” and he is known to the world as the Korean sensation whose catchy lyrics, trendy music videos and infectious invisible horse dance took over the internet and broke records all over the world.
Psy has long been making music but it wasn’t until Gangnam Style that he became a household name. So what was his life like before the hit song, and what did he do with his fame after? We take a look at his wealthy family background, controversial career and how he grew his net worth through his success in music.
Born with a silver spoon
Psy hails from a wealthy family. His father, Park Won-ho, is the chairman of Di-Corp, a semiconductor company, while his mother is said to own several restaurants in Seoul.
In 2012, when Gangnam Style became the most-viewed video on YouTube and the first Korean hit to break Apple’s music download charts, the stocks of Di-Corp surged over US$101 million and became one the most valuable stocks at that time, according to a Reuters report. It is said that the success of Gangnam Style has attracted investors to Di-Corp because of the fact that it is owned by the singer’s father and uncle.