Korean pop sensation cracks jokes at Harvard

Korean pop star PSY speaks in Memorial Church at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., Thursday, May 9, 2013. Dozens of screaming and shouting Harvard University students welcomed South Korean pop star PSY for a conversation inside the ornate church dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives in World War I. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts— South Korean rapper PSY was welcomed to Harvard University on Thursday night by dozens of screaming and shouting students and fans, as the “Gangnam Style” star participated in a conversation inside an ornate church dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives in World War I.

PSY began addressing students and faculty by noting that his presence at the Ivy League school “is so weird.”

He recalled spending four years studying management at Boston University while marvelling at Harvard from afar. He joked about his academic performance while at school in Boston, saying he was known by a nickname of WWF — which, he said, stands for withdrawal, withdrawal, failure.

The pop star, whose real name is Park Jae-sang, also joked that he’s heard that he is the first person to make a speech at Harvard without a written script.

Harvard professor of Korean History Carter Eckert says the discussion is looking at PSY as a modern global digital culture phenomenon.

PSY cracked jokes throughout this speech and said he was very shocked as his “Gangnam Style” video went viral. He said he was overwhelmed by its success and doesn’t realistically expect to replicate the feat.

“Gangnam style was not normal. Gangnam was not standard — that was an accident and accidents don’t happen often,” he said.

PSY wondered aloud why American TV news shows start so early, joking that he had a brutal experience waking up early for rehearsal for appearances on morning news shows.

He also recalled joining Madonna for rehearsal, saying he was surprised when she told him that he can touch her body anywhere while they were on stage.

“I cannot say I’ve been the best, but I can say I’ve done my best for 13 years” as a musician, he said.