Korean singer Psy is doing the famous "horse-riding dance" with Mark Webber of Australia (left) and Red Bull-Renault driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany (right). (AFP)
South Korean pop sensation Psy admitted that he was staggered by his new-found global fame as he brought his world-famous signature horse dance to his home grand prix on Sunday.
The 34-year-old, whose real name is Park Jae-Sang, rocketed to international fame when his song "Gangnam Style" and its much-imitated dance moves went viral on YouTube, notching up more than 450 million views -- and still rising fast.
Asked by AFP how he felt to have topped the music charts across the world, he said: "Well, this is unbelievable. I was not ready for this, so..."
Dressed in a white shirt with an orange bow tie hanging undone around his neck, he then gave a lesson on how to do the dance to Red Bull drivers Mark Webber, who was on pole position for Sunday's race, and reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel
"So one, two, three, four, then you..." he explained, moving his arms as if holding the reins of a horse. The trio then did the move briefly together, as dozens of photographers and fans swarmed around, clapping and cheering.
"Where are the sexy ladies?" Vettel asked Psy, a nod to the video of the song.
"No sexy ladies here, unfortunately," the Korean superstar replied with a laugh, before he was whisked away by his phalanx of plain-clothes security.
"This is a very solid dance," added Psy, who is an ambassador for the race in Yeongam and was scheduled to wave the chequered flag at the end of the grand prix. (AFP)
<관련 한글 기사>
세계적인 스포츠 스타들도 "강남스타일!"
‘강남스타일’로 세계적인 인기를 끌고 있는 가수 싸이가 14일 2012 F1 코리아 그랑프리가 열리고 있는 영암을 찾아 F1드라이버들에게 ‘말춤 특강’을 했다.
2012 F1 홍보대사이기도 한 싸이는 이날 결선레이스가 열리기 전부터 영암서킷을 찾아 세바스찬 베텔, 마크 웨버 등에게 말춤을 가르쳐줬다.
이날 베텔은 춤을 배우면서 강남스타일의 가사를 빗대어 “섹시 레이디는 어디있냐?”라고 싸이에게 물었는데, 그는 이에 “불행히도 여기에는 없다”라고 재치있게 응수했다.
한편 F1 대회조직위원회는 “싸이가 시상식 때 결선에서 1~3위를 차지한 선수들과 함께 말춤을 추며 축하할 것”이라고 밝혔다.
싸이는 이날 오후 경기를 관람한 후 F1 코리아 그랑프리 최종 우승자를 알리는 체커플래거로 나설 예정이다. 흰색과 검은색 체크무늬로 된 체커플래그는 모든 경주가 종료됐음을 알리는 깃발이다.
싸이의 결선레이스가 끝난 오후 6시부터 F1경주장 상설블럭 앞에서 축하공연을 1시간 가량 진행한다. 전일군 혹은 일요일 티켓을 소지한 관람객들은 무료관람할 수 있다.