Rapper Psy was recognized for enriching the image of the nation and opening up a new horizon for the future of K-pop around the world, at the Corea Image Communication Institute’s 10th anniversary awards banquet on Tuesday.

The CICI, an organization that strives to advance the global image of Korea, awarded the K-pop star with the Korea Image Stepping Stone Award for the role he played in putting Korean music on the map with his viral smash hit “Gangnam Style.” 

Psy, who is the first Asian singer to have ever ranked No. 1 on the U.K. Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard chart, said that when he first began to promote the song overseas, he really struggled with the decision of whether or not he should translate his lyrics. However, he now expressed his satisfaction in his decision to keep the original Korean.

“The Korean language itself is exceptional,” Psy said in a pre-recorded interview. “Other foreigners have also told me that they found the language to be very dynamic.”

“I think what makes me different from other artists is my sincerity,” added the K-pop star. “The audience may not understand what I am singing about, but I always give it my all when I am performing.”

The other awardees of the night included YouTube, which received the Korea Image Stepping Stone Bridge Award for its role in promoting Korean culture through its online video community, and child pianist Lee Hyuk, who received the Korea Image Budding Youth Award in recognition of his musical talents.

The 12-year-old piano prodigy became the youngest pianist ever to win the International Chopin Competition for Young Pianists, which took place in Moscow last year.

“There are so many other children who are so much better than me ... I don’t know what to say,” said the pianist. “I will continue to work hard to become a musician that Korea can be proud of.”

This year’s CICI awards banquet was held at the Grand Intercontinental Hotel’s Grand Ballroom in Samseong-dong and was attended by around 800 distinguished guests including former Prime Minister Han Seung-soo, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choe Kwang-sik and Scott Wightman, the British Ambassador to Korea.

By Julie Jackson (juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)