Who is G-Dragon? Biography, Career, and Personal Life of BIGBANG’s Leader (2024 Updated)

G-Dragon is a name that is incredibly familiar not only to Korean audiences but also widely recognized worldwide. He has left a profound mark in the various fields he’s involved in, being regarded as a fashion icon and a monument of Korean music. With a massive fan base in Asia and across the globe, it’s time to delve into the biography and career of this talented idol.

Who is G-Dragon?

Kwon Ji-yong (Korean: 권지용), commonly known as G-Dragon, is a South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is dubbed as the “King of K-pop” and the leader of the music group Big Bang, one of the best-selling boy bands globally.

G-Dragon, the “Fashion Icon,” has been influential in shaping fashion trends in Korea, earning him awards such as “Style Icon of the Year 2008” and “Most Influential Men of 2008” sponsored by Arena magazine.

In 2013, G-Dragon was listed in the Style Icon Top 10 and won the Style Icon of the Year Award 2013, being the first singer to receive this award in its entirety. Renowned TV personality Kim Jun Hee commented, “G-Dragon not only has a sense of fashion but also possesses musical composition skills like a genius.”

G-Dragon’s Biography

• Real Name: Kwon Ji Yong (권지용)
• Date of Birth: August 18, 1988 – Seoul, South Korea
• Height: 177cm
• Blood Type: A
• Religion: Christianity
• Position in Big Bang: Leader, Main Rapper, Main Dancer, Producer, Lyricist
• Languages: Fluent in Korean, English, and Japanese
• Years Active: Engaged in artistic activities since 1995 till present
• Instagram: xxxibgdrgn

G-Dragon’s Career

Starting his singing career at the age of 5, G-Dragon was part of the children’s music group Little Roora. The group was well-received not only for their innocence and cuteness but also for their talent and performances.

However, Little Roora’s activities were short-lived. After releasing a Christmas album, the management abruptly terminated their contract, leaving G-Dragon heartbroken. There were moments when he felt despondent and confessed to his mother that he would never become a singer again.

From 2000 to 2009: Beginning of Singing Career and Debut with Big Bang

• Shortly after the failure of the children’s group, G-Dragon auditioned for a major entertainment company in Korea as a dancer. He became the youngest trainee in the company, spending almost 5 years (from 8 to 13 years old) there.
• Through serendipity, G-Dragon discovered the American hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, leading him to self-study and practice rap. His first publicly released song was “Love Little.” In 2001, he appeared on the hip-hop album “2001 Korea Hiphop Flex.” G-Dragon was known to the public as a member of the hip-hop group People’s Crew, where he wrote lyrics and composed music, despite his limited English proficiency at the time.
• Later on, due to his unique fashion sense, he caught the attention of another entertainment company, which persuaded him to join. Though initially accepted, he ended up doing menial tasks for other trainees there. Unwilling to accept this fate, G-Dragon and another trainee, Dong Youngbae, planned to form a hip-hop duo. Thus, he adopted the stage name G-Dragon. After over 6 years of training, he appeared on several singles of other artists.

In 2006, G-Dragon debuted as the leader of Big Bang. He and Big Bang gained popularity with hits like “La La La,” “Forever With You,” and “We Belong Together.” Additionally, G-Dragon contributed his solo cover of Maroon 5’s “This Love” to the group’s discography.

• He then ventured into songwriting and achieved numerous consecutive successes with singles like “Last Farewell” and “Day by Day.”
• G-Dragon received the “Style Icon of the Year 2008” award for his distinctive fashion and was recognized as one of the top 8 best music arrangers in Korea in 2008. He also won the “Most Influential Men of 2008” award voted by Arena magazine based on his style.

Indeed, the king had returned, and every move of his garnered attention.

From 2009 to 2016

• This period marked a bright and peak phase of G-Dragon’s career. Alongside his activities with Big Bang, he developed his solo career and invested in worldwide tours.
• On August 24, 2012, G-Dragon released the music video for “One Of A Kind,” which quickly earned him the Best Hip-hop/Rap Song of the Year award.
• His enlistment in the military in 2018 led to a temporary halt in his artistic activities, much to the disappointment of fans.

G-Dragon not only shines in his music career

In addition to projects with fellow group members, G-Dragon collaborated with various artists, achieving significant successes.

He participated in the program “Infinite Challenge” with Taeyang in 2015, and together with Hwang Kwanghee of ZE:A, they released the single “Mapsosa,” which reached the second position on the Gaon Digital Chart.

Furthermore, in September 2014, G-Dragon collaborated with jeweler Chow Tai Fook and launched his own collection.

By 2015, G-Dragon opened an art exhibition titled PEACEMINUSONE: Beyond the Stage, showcasing over two hundred artworks by twelve artists from both inside and outside of Korea. This exhibition aimed to bridge contemporary painting with pop culture, serving as a nexus between painting and the audience. It started in Seoul, South Korea, on June 6 and concluded in Shanghai and Singapore on August 23.

The Peaceminusone Para-Noise, G-Dragon’s shoe model, not only gained public attention but was also eagerly sought after by many famous artists.

He also specially designed shoes for friends and family. The version dedicated to Dara (2NE1) differed from regular ones with gold swooshes, combining gold and white colors, with her name written on the heel and a special line on the sole.

This somewhat reflects the close bond between the long-time friends from YG Entertainment.

Not only Dara, but T.O.P (Big Bang) also shared images of a unique Nike Air Force 1 model with feminine floral patterns.

This design was specifically made by Nike for G-Dragon a few years prior and was named Flower Road, meaning T.O.P was the second person to own this special pair of shoes.

At thirty years old, with a career spanning twenty-two years and being a K-pop legend with millions of fans worldwide, and his hit songs still retaining their popularity after many years, G-Dragon has truly solidified his position as the shining crown of K-pop that few can challenge.

G-Dragon Dating Famous Stars from Korea to Japan

In 2009, G-Dragon was caught in dating rumors with the famous Japanese model, Kiko Mizuhara. A year earlier, the singer was rumored to be dating Sohee (Wonder Girls), but both companies denied it.

However, YG Entertainment dismissed these rumors, stating that both were just friends. Similarly, the female party also denied the rumors. However, the speculations arose when some mutual friends of the couple posted pictures of them together. The final confirmation came in 2014 when Kiko Mizuhara attended G-Dragon’s birthday party, and Dispatch released a series of intimate photos of the two. It was only then that the couple stopped denying their relationship.

G-Dragon’s second muse was Kiko, also a Japanese model, who happened to be a fan of his. In March 2016, they had the opportunity to collaborate in a photoshoot together. Despite ongoing suspicions about their relationship, both parties continued to deny it.

By September 2016, when G-Dragon’s computer was hacked, numerous intimate photos of him with Kiko were leaked. Even close friends of the singer, including Taeyang, left comments under the images, which breached the privacy of BIGBANG’s leader.

The third lady to cross paths with G-Dragon was Jooyeon (After School). In 2019, a clip capturing intimate moments between the two idols, shared by an automatic sharing app, sparked dating rumors. Despite both parties remaining silent, they couldn’t escape the scrutiny of the public.

G-Dragon and Jooyeon often checked in at the same locations, and Dispatch even provided evidence of them spending four days and three nights together on Jeju Island. However, both companies confirmed that the individuals in the photos were indeed the two artists, but whether they were dating or not remained unconfirmed. This left many fans skeptical.

In early 2021, the K-pop community was rocked by Dispatch’s explosive revelation that G-Dragon was dating his junior, a highly popular female singer from the third generation – Jennie (BLACKPINK).

Before this, they had collaborated in G-Dragon’s music video. The eight-year age gap between the senior-junior pair didn’t hinder their status as two of the most prominent figures in today’s K-pop scene. When this news broke, many fans rejoiced. It’s known that the couple has been dating for over a year, with Jennie often ending her group activities to spend time with G-Dragon before going home. Even everyone in the company was aware of their situation. After this news was made public, YG Entertainment responded with the usual statement: “We cannot verify anything related to the dating rumors of G-Dragon (BIGBANG) and Jennie (BLACKPINK) as this is the private matter of the artists.”

Scandals

In mid-2011, G-Dragon was caught smoking marijuana in Japan. He explained that he received “a cigarette from someone he didn’t know at a party” and quickly discarded it after realizing it had a strange taste. However, G-Dragon still tested positive for the banned substance and had to apologize to the public. Authorities also gave the leader of Big Bang a suspended sentence due to the small amount of stimulants found, and this was his first offense.

In 2018, G-Dragon sparked controversy again due to his medical leave and frequent hospitalizations during his military service. The South Korean media raised suspicions that the artist received special treatment in the military, as he took more than his allotted sick leave days, stayed in a luxury room for treatment, and spent one-third of his military service time outside his unit for medical reasons. Despite the Ministry of National Defense and YG Entertainment denying all allegations, G-Dragon still faced severe criticism.

On October 25, 2023, the Seoul police department charged G-Dragon with violating drug management laws but did not detain him. However, later on, the idol was proven innocent.