G-Dragon

G-Dragon (지드래곤), born Kwon Ji-yong (권지용), is the architect of modern K-Pop. As BIGBANG's leader, main rapper, and chief producer since 2006, he pioneered the idol-producer model that reshaped the entire industry. Before G-Dragon, K-Pop idols performed what they were given. He wrote, composed, and produced, proving that creative control and commercial success were not mutually exclusive. His solo career has been equally transformative. Heartbreaker (2009) became the first solo album by a K-Pop idol to sell over one million copies domestically. Coup d'Etat (2013) debuted at number one on the iTunes charts in 39 countries. After a seven-year hiatus marked by military service and a drug allegation he was fully acquitted of in December 2023, G-Dragon signed with Galaxy Corporation and dropped "POWER" on October 31, 2024, setting a 2024 Melon record with 83,000 listeners in its first hour. His third studio album Übermensch (February 2025), featuring "Home Sweet Home" with BIGBANG members Taeyang and Daesung, topped iTunes in 28 countries and surpassed 300 million Spotify streams. The accompanying Übermensch World Tour spanned 39 shows across 17 cities, drawing 825,000 fans and becoming the largest tour by a Korean solo act in history. Beyond music, G-Dragon operates at fashion's highest levels. His brand PEACEMINUSONE collaborates with Nike and sits alongside his role as a Chanel ambassador since 2016. HYPEBEAST has named him one of fashion's 100 most influential figures eight times. In 2026, he confirmed BIGBANG's 20th anniversary comeback, bringing the trio to Coachella and cementing his status as K-Pop's most enduring creative force.