As YouTube, the world’s largest video platform, celebrates its 20th anniversary, two Korean videos have been recognized as landmark moments in the platform’s history.
On April 23, The New York Times published a feature highlighting 18 iconic moments that have defined YouTube over the past two decades. Among the selections were co-founder Jawed Karim’s first-ever upload, “Me at the zoo,” Canadian singer Justin Bieber’s rise to fame via YouTube, and talk show host Conan O’Brien’s mukbang video, illustrating YouTube's wide-reaching cultural impact.
Two Korean videos were also included in this historic list.
The first is Psy’s “Gangnam Style” music video, released in July 2012. By the end of that year, it became the first YouTube video ever to surpass 1 billion views. The New York Times emphasized the uniqueness of the phenomenon, quoting Psy from a 2022 interview, “I did everything — the song, the choreography, the performance — but I still don’t understand why that one was so special.”
The second is the viral children’s song “Baby Shark.” The Times described its global rise with the phrase, “world domination began quietly.” It all started in November 2015, when Seoul-based company SmartStudy uploaded the video under its Pinkfong brand. In June 2016, a remixed version with a more addictive beat was released, propelling the song to worldwide popularity.
By November 2020, “Baby Shark” became the most viewed video in YouTube history, a record it still holds today with 15.8 billion views.
The article also featured MrBeast, one of the most popular YouTubers globally. He began his channel as a middle schooler in 2012 and gained attention for videos that gave large sums of money to people in need. In November 2021, his real-life recreation of 'Squid Game,' offering 456,000 USD in prize money, became the most-watched video on his channel.
YouTube is now seen as more than just a video-sharing site. It’s a platform that has reshaped global pop culture. The 20th-anniversary feature by The New York Times retraced YouTube’s most symbolic milestones, reflecting on the platform’s transformative influence.
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