Will G-Dragon leave BIGBANG?
G-Dragon of K-pop boy band BIGBANG Courtesy of YG Entertainment
By Dong Sun-hwa
Will G-Dragon leave BIGBANG?
A seemingly meaningful remark that the K-pop boy band's leader made early October has come under scrutiny again, raising speculation about his possible exit from the group.
G-Dragon's Instagram post read: “Live for yourself. Let the world turn without you. It's not the end of the world without you. Don't take yourself too seriously.”
But BIGBANG's agency YG Entertainment is yet to make an official announcement.
“I haven't received any messages about the group's future activities,” a YG spokesperson told The Korea Times, Wednesday. “I think the members would have to be discharged from the military in the first place. We will come up with a statement when it is ready.”
G-Dragon's words have resurfaced following his bandmate T.O.P's announcement on Sunday. T.O.P commented on Instagram that he would retire from the entertainment industry.
"Yes! God! I have no plan to come back," he wrote. He was responding to a netizen, who had suggested he take time for self-reflection and not return. In July 2017, the rapper was given a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, for smoking marijuana multiple times in 2016.
K-pop boy group BIGBANG Courtesy of YG Entertainment
G-Dragon was also embroiled in a marijuana scandal for allegedly smoking the drug at a club in Japan in 2011. In February 2018, he began serving his mandatory military service but stirred a debate for allegedly receiving preferential treatment while being enlisted. He will be released on Oct 26.
BIGBANG debuted with five members ― G-Dragon, Taeyang, Daesung, T.O.P and Seungri ― in 2006, but Seungri left in March this year after a nightclub affiliated with him was mired in a various scandals involving drugs and sex crimes. Taeyang and Daesung, who are currently serving their country, will also be discharged in November.