VIDEO: Thai Prisoners De-Stress ‘Gangnam Style’
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Rapper Psy performs ‘Gangnam Style’ onstage in Germany, November 2012. Andreas Rentz/Getty Images for MTVBANGKOK, Thailand) — Countless parodies of Korean rapper Psy’s infectious “Gangnam Style” have been done by California lifeguards, the Oregon Ducks’ mascot and even a 7-year-old ‘Little Psy.’
Now the surprise hit has found its way into a Thailand prison.
Nearly 100 inmates in Bangkok Remand Prison danced for jail officials on Tuesday after competing in a “Gangnam Style” dance contest last week.
Officials said the dance off was meant to help inmates’ blow off steam and keep them in shape while doing time. Prisoners whose sentences did not exceed seven years and those who were awaiting trial were eligible to participate.
According to ITN News, the inmates have been competing since October in the Gangnam dance-off for the chance to win a trophy, food and clothing.
Posted on YouTube in July, the viral sensation just made history, surpassing Justin Bieber’s “Baby” as the most viewed video on the site, garnering over 830 million hits to date.
The rapper, who is in the running for TIME’s Person of the Year 2012, will be performing in Thailand on Wednesday night, marking his first show in Asia outside of South Korea.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio