Ambassador Rata meets with Gangnam Style pop star PSY

Ambassador Patrick Rata presents a 2012 Korea-New Zealand Year of Friendship T-shirt to PSY and PSY gives signed copies of his latest album to the Ambassador and Sophie Kang from the Embassy.

Ambassador Patrick Rata caught up with Korean pop singer PSY in Seoul on 2 October and congratulated on him on the phenomenal global success of his single Gangnam Style.  “Its No.1 in a whole bunch of countries right now, including New Zealand, and No.2 on the US Billboard charts”, said Ambassador Rata.  “I told PSY that New Zealand has a population of around 4 and a half million people and a great many of them are Gangnam Style fans.  We’ll be delighted if he can visit our shores sometime soon.”

Ambassador Rata also explained the significance of the 2012 Official Korea-New Zealand Year of Friendship and presented PSY with a commemorative t-shirt.  “Our two countries are great and longstanding friends and this is a moment to celebrate” said Ambassador Rata.  “PSY seemed very pleased to receive our T-shirt.  A really neat and humble young man, he was also genuinely grateful for and delighted in the support he has received from New Zealand.”

More photos can be found on the Embassy Facebook page.