Korean rapper`s video proving to be a hit at Harvard Univ.

"Over summer vacation, Psy`s `Gangnam Style` music video was popular on my friends` Facebook pages, blogs and email. When I returned to class, its popularity was at its peak."

Rene Rober, president of Hasty Pudding Theatricals, a social club for Harvard University students, said this Monday in describing "Gangnam Style fever" at the top U.S. institution of higher learning. Formed in 1795 and having the third-longest history at Harvard, the club had 23 members upload videos parodying the music video, which got nearly 2,000 clicks. On Saturday, they held a flash mob at Harvard Square featuring Psy`s horse dance.

They said they made the parody videos as an audition to attract more members and ultimately promote the club. The song is popular among Harvard students and easy to satirize, they added.

Hasty Pudding members perform 40 plays they write every year in spring in Bermuda and New York. They are considering performing to Psy`s song the next time they go on stage.

Rober said Psy is the only Korean pop singer club members know and that the rapper`s song was their first experience with K-pop. "Gangnam Style" is playing a huge role in spreading K-pop in the U.S. and elsewhere, and Rober attached an article in The Atlantic, a major magazine in Boston, that introduced Psy via email.

witness@donga.com