[★FOCUS] 2-Year Vacancy to ‘Active Soldier’ GD Is Too Much
[스타뉴스=윤상근 기자] Top idol-group BIGBANG’s leader G-DRAGON (30·Kwon Ji Yong) will become an active soldier. He will be the first member of BIGBANG to become an active soldier.
On February 27, G-DRAGON will enlist in the 3rd Infantry White Skull Division Recruit Training Center of the ROK army located in Cheorwon, Gangwon-do. He is planning to head to the center without any special events, while related personnel from YG Entertainment see him off. The Ministry of National Defense decided not to open G-DRAGON’s enlistment scene to the press, on YG’s request.
On February 25, two days prior to enlistment, G-DRAGON attended the ‘YG REPUBLIQUE Jeju Shinhwa World Location’ grand opening held on Seogwipo City, Jeju Island and shortly stated, “Happy new year everyone, I will be back (after military duty)”, gathering attention from the audience. G-DRAGON arrived in Seoul on the 26th through Gimpo International Airport, and spent his last night before enlistment.
G-DRAGON is acknowledged as the best solo artist in K-POP. After revealing his presence with the nickname ‘G-DRAGON’ inspired by his real name in 2001, he started his career as one of the five members of a Hip-hop idol group named BIGBANG, back in 2006. G-DRAGON led BIGBANG as a leader and created numerous hits including ‘LIES’, ‘HARU HARU’, ‘LAST FAREWELL’, ‘A Good Man’, ‘SUNSET GLOW’, ‘Number 1’, ‘BAD BOY’, ‘BANG BANG BANG’, ‘BAE BAE’, ‘LOSER’, ‘LET’S NOT FALL IN LOVE’, ‘FXXK IT’, ‘FANTASTIC BABY’, ‘LAST DANCE’, and ‘IF YOU’, establishing himself and his group as idols that represent K-POP.
He also acted as a solo artist and created hits including ‘THIS LOVE’, ‘HEART BREAKER’, ‘CRAYON’, ‘ONE OF A KIND’, ‘GOOD BOY’, ‘Untitled’, and ‘BULLSHIT’, while also achieving huge success as a composer by featuring or producing hits for fellow musicians.
G-DRAGON established his position as a solo artist while expanding his field of work. He grew his rap skills when he was younger as the youngest member of YG Family along with TAEYANG, and later displayed his versatile musicality through his producing skills, not limited formats such as mixtapes, digital music, LP, and CD. He even spread out a new message to the music industry by releasing his album ‘KWON JI YONG’ in a USB format.
G-DRAGON stood out among other idols as a fashion idol as well. He displayed his position as a celebrity established as a musician in well-known fashion shows in and out of Korea. His unique style and fashion senses helped him solidify his status as an artist. His natural-born confidence was also a plus.
There were complications as well during the whole process. He was accused of drug use, and had scandals with many female celebrities. However, G-DRAGON stayed in his place. His achievements as a musician, fashion star, and as a solo artist became a power source that helped G-DRAGON succeed in the long run.
G-DRAGON will be discharged on November 26, 2019. People will not be able to watch G-DRAGON perform for about 2 years. G-DRAGON dressed in military uniform may be released through the press from time to time. Although his enlistment period is a bit late compared to others, people are already curious and are cheering for G-DRAGON in successfully completing his military duty as an active soldier.
2018. 2. 27.
