G-Dragon made his long-anticipated solo comeback on March 29 with his first concert in eight years, but instead of being a triumphant return, the event sparked widespread criticism from fans and netizens alike for delays, poor sound and post-show mess.
Held at the Goyang Sports Complex in Gyeonggi Province, the event, “G-DRAGON 2025 WORLD TOUR [Übermensch] IN KOREA, presented by Coupang Play,” faced an initial hurdle due to severe weather conditions, including wind, snow, and freezing temperatures. These factors contributed to a 73-minute delay before the show officially began. Although his agency Galaxy Corporation apologized and cited safety concerns, many fans expressed disappointment in the overall execution.
Live Performance Draws Mixed Reactions
Once the concert finally began, another issue quickly surfaced, G-Dragon’s live vocal performance. Clips from the show spread rapidly across SNS platforms, with fans debating whether the artist’s singing fell short of expectations. Some blamed the vocal quality on the poor acoustics of the outdoor venue and interference from strong winds, rather than the singer’s s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 alone.
Who you ☺️
Übermensch in Korea Day 1 #GDWORLDTOURÜbermensch#GDRAGON2025 #지드래곤 @IBGDRGN pic.twitter.com/napEN5F9cv
— 에라 모르겠다 🇲🇾 (@eramoreugedda) March 29, 2025
Omg TODAY 😭
Übermensch in Korea Day 1 #GDWORLDTOURÜbermensch#GDRAGON2025 #지드래곤 @IBGDRGN pic.twitter.com/7l7Rkp27EG
— 에라 모르겠다 🇲🇾 (@eramoreugedda) March 29, 2025
“The people who paid to attend must be shocked.”
“Wow… This is shocking, lol. But this happened last year, too? I didn’t watch Gayo Daejeon, so I had no idea.”
“What do I do? I can’t stop laughing. He seriously looks like a drunk person…”
“Even when he was popular with BIGBANG, I never thought he was a great singer. The songs were good, though, lol.”
“It was bad at Gayo Daejeon, too…”
“What’s up with the atmosphere?”
“He’s not singing. He’s just acting like a drunk mess. Wasn’t he pretty good at live performances before…?”
Nonetheless, the debate over whether G-Dragon delivered vocally has added to the mounting backlash, especially given the high anticipation surrounding his first concert since the “ACT III: M.O.T.T.E” world tour in 2017.
G-Dragon also left the stage mid-performance to engage with fans on the ground floor, a move that, while appreciated by some, led to crowding and safety concerns. As people rushed toward the artist, fans and observers expressed unease about the lack of crowd control and potential risks involved.
Trash Left Behind Sparks Criticism
After the concert ended, photos of the venue littered with trash, particularly remnants of G-Dragon’s official light stick “Cradle,” began circulating online. Some fans were seen unboxing the merchandise and leaving the packaging and other debris at their seats.
The aftermath sparked criticism over fan etiquette and the event’s clean-up efforts, with many disappointed by the lack of responsibility shown by both attendees and organizers.
While G-Dragon’s return to the stage was meant to be a major moment in K-pop this year, the event has instead triggered a storm of backlash. From sound complaints to safety concerns and environmental mess, fans are now questioning whether the concert met the standards expected from one of K-pop’s biggest names. The incident highlights how even the most iconic stars are not immune to criticism, especially when expectations are sky-high.
