GD (Kwon Ji Yong / 권지용), the last remaining member of BIGBANG (빅뱅), has left YG Entertainment, leaving no members of the group within the company. On June 6th, YG Entertainment announced, “G-Dragon’s exclusive contract has expired, and we are currently cooperating through separate contracts for advertising and other activities. When he resumes music activities, we plan to discuss additional contracts, and YG will not hesitate to support him.”
This is the first time YG Entertainment has officially acknowledged G-Dragon’s contract expiration. As the leader of BIGBANG and a key figure in YG Entertainment, G-Dragon (지드래곤) had been with the company since the group’s debut in 2006. Throughout his 16-year tenure, G-Dragon maintained his relationship with the company through contract renewals, despite issues such as contract expiration and establishing his own company.
BIGBANG was a leading K-pop group until member Seungri’s departure in 2019. The group had a strong global fandom, but the quintet disbanded after Seungri was revealed to be a central figure in the Burning Sun scandal. In fact, BIGBANG had already been on hiatus since 2017 due to the members’ military service. Concerns about the resumption of the four-member BIGBANG’s activities were repeatedly raised, and in February 2022, member T.O.P announced his departure from YG Entertainment.
At the time, YG Entertainment mentioned that T.O.P would join BIGBANG’s activities “whenever the conditions are met,” but he distanced himself from the company. In December 2022, Taeyang and Daesung left YG Entertainment one after another, leaving only leader G-Dragon and casting doubt on BIGBANG’s comeback. In June 2023, just six months later, it was announced that G-Dragon had also ended his contract with YG Entertainment. Prior to this, on May 31st, T.O.P had attracted renewed attention by stating on his Instagram that he had “already left (BIGBANG).”
With Seungri’s expulsion, T.O.P’s departure, and the consecutive exits of Taeyang, Daesung, and G-Dragon from YG Entertainment, it remains to be seen whether BIGBANG will reunite and release an album as YG Entertainment hopes. As BIGBANG enters its 18th year since debut, fans are curious whether the group will officially disband and focus on solo activities.
