Phuket: 'Gangnam Style' leads to gunplay again in Thailand

THAILAND: Psy’s global K-pop megahit Gangnam Style is making the news in Thailand again – for all the wrong reasons.

Monday 12 November 2012, 01:08PM

Two young men in Ubon Ratchathani Province in northeast Thailand are in serious condition after a man shot them, one in the face, with a shotgun in the early hours of Sunday morning, according to newspaper Khao Sod.

Their crime? Dancing the chubby Korean superstar’s trademark Gangnam Style “horse dance” at a temple fair.

The alleged shooter, Wichet “Boy” Kunket, 19, is on the run.

His alleged victims had been partying at Ban Non Hong Thong Temple in Rai Noi Subdistrict, during a fair celebrating the offering of new robes to the monks there.

When the trouble started, Worakit Chankong, 24, and “Lek”, whose name has been changed because he is 17, were dancing in front of the mor lam stage (mor lam is a type of bass-heavy Northeastern dance music).

But rather than dancing in traditional style, with its elegant arm movements, the pair were performing Psy’s horse dance.

For some reason, Wichet was angered by this display and approached the two looking for a fight, Lek told Khao Sod.

Security officers intervened, stopping the fight and sending Wichet home.

Around 2am, after a long night’s partying, the pair decided to leave.

But as they drove away from the fair on a motorcycle, they saw Wichet waiting for them. He was holding a shotgun.

He fired at them, hitting Worakit in the right eye socket and Lek in the arm and torso, Lek said.

By the time police arrived at the scene, the pair had already been sent to Sapphasit Prasong Hospital.

Police went to Wichet’s home in Rai Noi Subdistrict, where his father said his son had not come home that night.

Officers believe he is hiding out at a friend’s house and expect to bring him into custody soon.

The incident is not the first time Gangnam Style has led to shootings in Thailand.

In September, a Gangnam Style dance-off led to a gun battle in Bangkok’s Ekkamai District.