Singer Tony An, the mastermind behind the viral sensation known as the "Piki Piki Song," has revealed that he's earned a mere $200 USD in copyright earnings from the catchy tune. The song, a revamped version of JTL's "MY Lecon," has become a staple at Korean professional baseball games, particularly during the Kia Tigers' cheer dance routine.

Originally composed by Tony An along with Jang Woo hyuk and Lee Jaewon, the "Piki Piki Song" features a faster BPM and other tweaks courtesy of an Indonesian DJ. Its infectious melody rings out each time a Kia Tigers' pitcher strikes out an opponent, signaling the cheerleaders to spring into action with their iconic routine of thumbs up and synchronized arm movements.

What truly catapulted the song to global fame was a video showcasing cheerleader Lee Jooeun effortlessly performing the routine while casually touching up her makeup. This video, set to the tune of the "Piki Piki Song," has amassed over 93 million views on YouTube, capturing the attention of viewers worldwide. Even the prestigious New York Times recognized the dance's universal appeal in a feature last August.

Despite its widespread popularity and countless appearances in social media content and games, Tony An surprisingly only got around to copyrighting the song after it had already gone viral. On the popular SBS show "My Little Old Boy," he shared that he had registered the copyright a mere three months ago, joking that the earnings so far could barely cover the cost of a luxury car's steering wheel.

When questioned by his peers about the delayed copyright registration, Tony An attributed it to his former company's oversight, admitting that he never anticipated the song's explosive success two decades after its inception. Reflecting on the situation at the Korea Music Copyright Association, he humorously recounted the officials' disbelief upon confirming his ownership of the smash hit, "Piki Piki Song."