Posted by Nate Jones on 12/07/2012 at 5:14 PM News

As expected, K-Pop rapper PSY has apologized for calling for the violent death of U.S. troops during an anti-American demonstration in Korea eight years ago. The remarks, which came to light Friday morning, occurred during a tense moment in Korean-American relations, which PSY says influenced his violent rhetoric: “ The song I featured on … was part of a deeply emotional reaction to the war in Iraq and the killing of two Korean schoolgirls that was part of the overall antiwar sentiment shared by others around the world at that time.”

Now, though, PSY wants the American military to know that he is thankful for all it has done for Korea and is sorry for ever wishing death and torture upon them and their families. “As a proud South Korean who was educated in the United States and lived there for a very significant part of my life,” he writes, “I understand the sacrifices American servicemen and women have made to protect freedom and democracy in my country and around the world.”

You can read PSY’s full statement below:

As a proud South Korean who was educated in the United States and lived there for a very significant part of my life, I understand the sacrifices American servicemen and women have made to protect freedom and democracy in my country and around the world. The song I featured on in question from eight years ago – was part of a deeply emotional reaction to the war in Iraq and the killing of two Korean schoolgirls that was part of the overall antiwar sentiment shared by others around the world at that time. While I’m grateful for the freedom to express one’s self, I’ve learned there are limits to what language is appropriate and I’m deeply sorry for how these lyrics could be interpreted. I will forever be sorry for any pain I have caused by those words.

I have been honored to perform in front of American soldiers in recent months – including an appearance on the Jay Leno show specifically for them- and I hope they and all Americans can accept my apology. While it’s important that we express our opinions, I deeply regret the inflammatory and inappropriate language I used to do so. In my music, I try to give people a release, a reason to smile. I have learned that through music, our universal language we can all come together as a culture of humanity and I hope that you will accept my apology.

In terms of musician apologies, this one’s actually pretty solid. The word “if” isn’t in there once!

[Mediaite]