South Korean rapper and singer-songwriter Psy (Park Jae-sang) received an honorary diploma from Yonsei University at the main auditorium of the Sinchon campus in Seoul on Monday, February 24.
The “Gangnam Style” hitmaker gave a speech to the graduating class that emphasized the importance of personal fulfillment. “Success is finite, it eventually fades,” he said. “But fulfillment is limitless. Success is something you consume, while fulfillment is something you keep.”
Yonsei University recognizes Psy not only for his musical achievements but his philanthropic contributions and how he ushered in the globalization of K-pop when he broke through the global pop culture scene with the 2012 hit “Gangnam Style.”
“Psy has been highly regarded for raising the name of Yonsei beyond South Korea and for his exemplary activities in the fields of culture, arts, and social contributions,” the university said in a press release. In 2023, he was previously appointed as an honorary professor at Yonsei University Institute of the Arts, mentoring young artists.
Aside from his musical endeavors, the rapper-singer has contributed to social causes and donated 500 million won ($350,000) to Yonsei University Severance Children’s Hospital in 2014.
Just a few weeks ago, the singer made waves on social media when he apologized for losing weight after posting side-by-side photos of himself from 2006 and 2025. Fans pointed out his slimmer body and were a bit worried about his well-being, while others were not thrilled about his new physique.
Psy is set to star in the Apple TV+ reality competition series, Kpopped, with Megan Thee Stallion. The series will consist of eight episodes and will include pop artists performing their biggest hits and collaborating with the top K-pop idols.