YANG HYUN-SUK·G-DRAGON·BABY MONSTER… “Big Things Are Coming In YG In 2023”
[스타뉴스=한해선 기자] Some big things are coming from YG in 2023.
YG Entertainment released their artist lineup from for this year from December 30th till the first of January. YANG HYUN-SUK and G-DRAGROM from BIGBANG will make a comeback, and their new group BABY MONSTER will be making a debut.
YG put up a video called ‘G-DRAGON – GUERRILLA DESK : G_Division’ on the 1st of January on G-DRAGON’s official YouTube channel and YG’s official channel, which showed G-DRAGON’s plans for 2023 and his greetings to fans for the new year.
G-DRAGON said “It’s been a while since I’ve said hello like this, but I wanted to wish you guys a happy new year, and also talk about what I’ve been up to and what plans I have, since I wasn’t able to communicate much with you guys in 2022”. He then added “We released ‘STILL LIFE’ but we didn’t do any promotion activities so I was personally upset we couldn’t meet fans and perform. I’ve been working out a lot and taking a break by making the most out of my daily life. I’m really healthy”.
G-DRAGON then added, “Since social media is the only way to communicate with fans, I wanted to say that I’ll be working hard. I plan on meeting you guys through various activities and I’m also preparing an album. I’ll work hard to bring some great news for you in the new year.” After saying this, he even did a Korean style bow. Lastly, he said “Good job on this year and I hope the New Year brings you more health and luck. Let’s soar high once again”, and hopped his way out like a rabbit.
G-DRAGON released ‘STILL LIFE’ in April as a BIGBANG member, but they didn’t conduct any official promotion activities. All he did was put up daily pictures on his social media, and that was his only way of communicating with fans. BIGBANG made a comeback in 4 years since SEUNGRI left the group due to the ‘Burning Sun’ scandal in 2019, but with the termination of their contracts, T.O.P decided to leave the company, and TAEYANG and DAESUNG also found different agencies. Only G-DRAGON is currently in discussions about renewing his contract with YG. They originally said members are willing to carry out schedules as BIGBANG whenever time allows, but the possibility of that happening seems very unlikely for now. In the midst of the situation, G-DRAGON notified of a new solo album in six years since he released his solo album in 2017.
At the same day, YG also released a video introducing their new girl-group ‘BABY MONSTER’. YG officially announced the debut of their new girl-group on the 30th of December. The video slightly showed member’s faces, and the girls were dancing to a groovy hip-hop song flicking their straight hair. BABY MONSTER is YG’s new girl-group which comes in 7 years, and attention is being drawn to whether they will grow into a renowned pop-star, following 2NE1 and BLACKPINK.
YG’s executive producer YANG HYUN-SUK appeared in the introduction clip himself, as if to prove how much effort they put into the launching of the group. YANG said, “Think of them as a BABY who has the genes of YG”. He also said “It’s the first group we’re announcing in the new building, and we finally got to introduce this group to the world”. He then added, “Just like how they shocked me at monthly evaluations over the past 4 years, I hope they become stars that will shock this world. Please judge them the way you see and hear them”, showing how confident he is in the group.
YANG HYUN-SUK had resigned from the CEO position of YG as various allegations surrounded him, right around the time SEUNGRI was under trial for the ‘Burning Sun’ scandal. YANG was cleared of charges of sexual favors, but was fined 15 million won after being found guilty of illegal overseas expedition gambling. Also, he was entangled in a long legal dispute for threatening A, who accused B.I, a former member of YG Group iKON, of taking drugs, and was found non-guilty in the first trial, but there is still an appeal filed by the prosecution. Attention was naturally drawn to his comeback at an official YG announcement and his appearance in the clip as an ‘Executive Producer’. He saying “I’ve watched the members over the past 4 years” shows hoe he still practices influence within YG Entertainment.
Meanwhile, after their contracts ended, all members of the group iKON (JAY, BOBBY, SONG, JU-NE, DK, CHAN) signed an exclusive contract with 143 Entertainment, which is led by executive producer DM, on the 1st.
The world’s attention is now drawn to how YG, which has gone through several breakups and came up with new lineup, will aim for its heyday in
2023.1.1
