K-pop star G-Dragon performs during the gala dinner of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit at the Lahan Select hotel in the southeastern city of Gyeongju on Oct. 31, 2025. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Korea Bizwire) — K-pop superstar G-Dragon said in a recent interview that he was so devastated by a drug investigation two years ago that he briefly considered retiring from music altogether.
The frontman of the influential group BIGBANG spoke candidly about the episode on MBC’s current affairs program “Sohn Suk-hee’s Questions,” which aired Wednesday, describing a period of emotional exhaustion and isolation following the allegations.
“I was involved in a certain incident about a year before releasing ‘Power,’” he said, referring to his 2023 investigation on suspicion of violating South Korea’s Narcotics Control Act. He was fully cleared of the charges that December. “There was nowhere to express my thoughts or emotions. Even though I was the victim, the situation spun out of control. I felt disheartened and empty.”
The singer and songwriter, also known for shaping K-pop fashion and trends, returned to the stage last November with “Power,” his first single in seven years. He said the track reflects the turmoil and introspection he experienced during that time.
“I didn’t even want to hold a press conference,” he recalled. “I wondered if coming back was the right thing to do. I could have just retired and lived an ordinary life, but that didn’t seem right either.”
G-Dragon described “Power” as “a humorous satire on the media,” adding that creating music became his only outlet during the controversy.
Now back in full force, the artist is on his “Ubermensch” world tour. After back-to-back shows in Hanoi over the weekend, he is set to wrap up the tour with three performances at Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome from Dec. 12 to 14.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
