As YouTube marks its 20th anniversary, The New York Times has spotlighted 18 defining moments in the platform’s history — and two viral Korean videos have earned a place among the most iconic.
Psy’s “Gangnam Style”, released in July 2012, is widely regarded as a cultural phenomenon that helped globalize K-pop.
It was the first video to surpass 1 billion views on YouTube, a feat that highlighted the platform’s rising global influence.
Even years later, Psy admitted in a 2022 interview that he still doesn’t fully understand why that particular song captured the world’s attention, despite being behind its every element — from the beat and lyrics to the unforgettable horse-dance choreography.
Joining it on the list is the Pinkfong hit “Baby Shark”, a children’s song that quietly became a juggernaut.
Originally uploaded in 2015 by Seoul-based SmartStudy, its remixed version released in 2016 propelled it to global dominance.
“Baby Shark” made history in November 2020 by becoming the most viewed video on YouTube, a title it still holds today with over 15.8 billion views.
These two videos represent Korea’s unprecedented digital influence, not only on music but also on the broader landscape of global pop culture.
YouTube’s 20-year retrospective — which also includes mentions of Justin Bieber’s discovery, the first video “Me at the zoo,” and MrBeast’s real-life Squid Game — reflects how the platform has evolved from a casual video-sharing site into a major force shaping cultural trends, fandoms, and even careers.
