How K-pop star G-Dragon became famous and why turning 30 won’t put the brakes on his success
With the singer about to mark his 30th birthday on Saturday, G-Dragon has a remarkable list of achievements to celebrate, as well as a bright future to look forward to even in an industry built around youth
In 1995, when dance music was first becoming popular in South Korea, four seven-year-olds appeared on daytime TV in front of an audience of middle-aged housewives. They were Little Roo’ra, the children’s version of Roo’ra, the most popular K-pop quartet of that year.
As the audience applauded the youngsters’ performance, one boy stood out with his obvious passion and smooth dance moves. The world was being introduced to the artist who would go on to become one of South Korea’s most popular K-pop figures.
His name was Kwon Ji-yong, but he is become better known by his stage name, G-Dragon. In the years since his debut, Kwon has come a long way – and with the star about to celebrate his 30th birthday on Saturday, G-Dragon has a remarkable list of achievements to celebrate, as well as a bright future to look forward to even in an industry built around youth.
“Turning 30 would normally affect a K-pop idol’s career, as the scene is obsessed with looks, but G-Dragon is a musical genius, not just a pretty singing and dancing product,” says Kim Dae-oh, an influential Korean cultural critic.
After Little Roo’ra disbanded, young Ji-yong, with the support of his mother, who recognised her son’s talent for performing early on, entered a dance contest while on a family ski holiday. The emcee of the event, where Ji-yong won the top prize, happened to be Lee Soo-man, the founder of the SM Entertainment company, who decided to recruit him as a trainee. Soon after that, Ji-yong came across the music of US hip-hop outfit Wu-Tang Clan, which inspired him to learn to how to rap.