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G-Dragon
- Stage name
- G-Dragon
- Birth name
- Kwon Ji-yong
- Position
- Solo artist; leader, rapper, lead dancer and sub-vocalist of Big Bang
- Agency
- Galaxy Corporation
- Fandom
- VIP
- Debut
- 2006
- Generation
- 2nd gen
G-Dragon, born Kwon Ji-yong, is a South Korean rapper, producer and fashion figure who first rose as the leader of Big Bang and later built a solo career on his own songwriting and production. His solo work mixes hip hop, pop and experimental ideas, and his 2025 album "Übermensch" ended a long gap between full-length releases. He now works under Galaxy Corporation after leaving YG Entertainment in 2023. U.S. fans care because of his long-running Chanel partnership, his Peaceminusone fashion brand, and a 2025 world tour that reached North America and Europe.
Where they grew up
G-Dragon's path began in childhood. A 2017 Koreaboo report, citing a TV episode, says he caught the eye of SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo Man at age 8 in a dance contest and spent about five years there as a part-time trainee. He has said himself that he was an SM trainee for five years before moving to YG. After discovering hip hop through Wu-Tang Clan, he studied it at academies, joined the crew People Crew, and appeared on a 2001 hip hop compilation at age 13. Jinusean's Sean reportedly recommended him to Yang Hyun Suk, who signed him to YG in 2002 and trained him by having him write lyrics and a song every week. He debuted in August 2006 as the leader, rapper, lead dancer and sub-vocalist of Big Bang, YG's first hip hop idol group.
Birth details: koreajoongangdaily.com
In their own words
- Wu-Tang Clan Hearing about the group pushed him toward hip hop and sent him to hip hop academies while he was a trainee. koreaboo.com
Timeline
- 2006Debut with Big Bang
G-Dragon debuted in August 2006 as leader, rapper, lead dancer and sub-vocalist of Big Bang, and went on to write, arrange and produce most of the group's catalogue. He also became a regular guest on MBC's Infinite Challenge, which ran 2006 to 2018.
- 2009Solo debut with Heartbreaker
His first solo full album, Heartbreaker, came out on August 18, 2009, with the title track and pre-release songs "A Boy" and "Butterfly". Guests included Teddy, CL, Taeyang and DARA.
- 2012One Of A Kind
His first mini album, One Of A Kind, was released on September 15, 2012.
- 2013Coup d'Etat
His second full album, Coup d'Etat, arrived on September 5, 2013. It stayed his latest full-length release until 2025.
- 2016Chanel ambassador
He became Chanel's first Asian global ambassador, a relationship that has outlasted his label contracts.
- 2017Kwon Ji Yong mini album
The second mini album, Kwon Ji Yong, was released on June 8, 2017.
- 2018Motte tour documentary
A tour documentary titled Kwon Ji Yong Act III: Motte was announced for YouTube Premium in August 2018.
- 2019Return from military service
Billboard reported his return from military service in October 2019.
- 2023Leaves YG, joins Galaxy Corporation
- 2024Tour partnership and KAIST post
- 2024Return to MAMA stage
Billboard reported in October 2024 that he would return to the MAMA Awards after nine years.
- 2024Comeback single POWER and EMPIRE deal
On October 31, 2024 he released the comeback single "POWER" and announced a partnership with the indie label EMPIRE.
- 2025Übermensch album
- 2025Übermensch world tour
A 39-show world tour across 17 cities in Asia, North America and Europe ran about eight months and ended at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on December 14, 2025, before roughly 54,000 fans. Big Bang's Taeyang and Daesung joined him on stage.
- 2025Melon Music Awards sweep
- 2026Big Bang 20th anniversary tour
Big Bang's 20th anniversary tour is set to begin in August 2026.
Latest
- Big Bang 20th anniversary tour
Big Bang's 20th anniversary tour is set to begin in August 2026, and G-Dragon hinted at a Big Bang concert at the end of his Seoul tour finale.
koreajoongangdaily.com - World Cup collaborationkoreajoongangdaily.com
- Agency robot idol plan
Korea JoongAng Daily ran a piece saying G-Dragon's agency plans for its next idol to be a robot.
koreajoongangdaily.com - Galaxy Corp. signing spree and IPO talk
Galaxy Corp., which brands itself an AI entertainment technology company, has signed Taemin and reportedly Kwon Eun-bi. Its roster includes G-Dragon, Song Kang-ho and Kim Jong-kook. The company is aiming for a U.S. listing this year, and Nasdaq and NYSE officials visited it.
koreaherald.com - Report on G-Dragon's contract terms
Local reports from June 2025 said he received a 20 billion won signing bonus, about half in stock options. His deal is reportedly based on completing 100 performances rather than a fixed period.
koreaherald.com
Our coverage
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BIGBANG's 31-Show Stadium Tour Runs Through Hanoi, Sydney and Four Japan Domes
The group's first tour since 2017 reunites G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung, with U.S. stops in Oakland and New Jersey and ten dome dates in Japan.
- koreajoongangdaily.com: Who is G-Dragon? Big Bang leader, producer and K-pop icon explained
- billboard.com: Tencent Music Partners With Galaxy Corporation for G ...
- koreaherald.com: Why are K-pop stars betting on Galaxy Corp.?
- koreaherald.com: G-Dragon wraps up Ubermensch tour in Seoul, teases Big ...
- billboard.com: From ‘Bad Influence’ to K-Pop Fame Decades Later: Yang Joon-il on His Comeback & G-Dragon Comparisons
- koreaboo.com: G-Dragon Was Actually Discovered By SM Entertainment ...
- myc.my: G-Dragon’s Übermensch 2025 KL Concert: Tickets Go On Sale Starting 26 May!
- billboard.com: G-Dragon | Biography, Music & News
- sg.style.yahoo.com: G-Dragon tells that he was a SM trainee for 5 years
- ygfamily.com: g-dragon
- billboard.com: G-Dragon | Biography, Music & News
- contactmusic.com: G-Dragon reveals comeback album Übermensch 'took a ...
Official channels verified on gdragon.ai
Last researched Nov. 11, 2026