First solo concert in 8 years marred by delays, performance concerns, and poor audience behavior—despite strong fan turnout and artistic ambition

G-Dragon (real name: Kwon Ji-yong), a member of BIGBANG and one of K-pop’s most iconic solo artists, returned to the stage with his 2025 World Tour [Übermensch]—his first solo concert in eight years. Held on March 29 and 30 at the Goyang Sports Complex in Gyeonggi Province, the concert sold out both nights, drawing over 60,000 fans. It was expected to be a defining comeback moment. Instead, it left many attendees disappointed due to a string of missteps that overshadowed the show’s artistic vision.

A Grand Vision for a Comeback

Übermensch, named after Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophical concept of the “overman,” was designed as an artistic spectacle. G-Dragon sought to embody the transformation into an Übermensch through a three-act narrative. The stage featured a massive “U” logo, a futuristic ABR (Air Balloon Robot), and AI-powered visuals—including de-aging tech that recreated G-Dragon’s childhood “Little Lula” persona. At one point, a drone show lit up the night sky with his likeness.

The setlist was equally ambitious. The concert opened with “POWER,” G-Dragon’s comeback single released in October 2024, and moved into “HOME SWEET HOME” featuring Taeyang and Daesung. Classic hits like “Crayon,” “That XX,” “Who You?”, “Crooked,” “Heartbreaker,” “This Love,” and “Untitled, 2014” stirred nostalgia. The concert also featured surprise appearances from CL (formerly of 2NE1) and beatboxer Wing, adding excitement to the experience.

A Rocky Start: Delays and Cold Weather

Despite the spectacle, the concert’s execution fell short. The March 29 performance was originally scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., but due to bad weather and strong winds, organizers announced a delay via social media at 1 p.m., rescheduling the start time to 7:00 p.m. However, even the revised time came and went without updates or apologies.

As fans waited in freezing weather (temperatures dipped to -2°C), frustration grew. By 7:30 p.m., organizers played music videos of “DRAMA,” “POWER,” and “TOO BAD (feat. Anderson .Paak)” on giant screens to stall for time—but this only triggered louder boos from the audience. The concert finally began at 7:43 p.m., a full 73 minutes after the originally scheduled time.

G-Dragon opened the show with a playful remark: “How have you been? I get shy easily, so if you don’t cheer loudly, I might walk off. Let’s try to meet each other halfway.” He did not directly address the delay until midway through the show, when he finally said, “The weather is really cold today. I’m sorry for starting late. I apologize for both the delay and the cold.”

Criticism Over Live Performance

G-Dragon’s live singing also became a point of contention. Throughout the performance, he seemed to forget lyrics—even during segments without backing tracks—and frequently filled gaps with humming or silence. His strained vocals and unstable pitch, despite wearing in-ear monitors, led to a noticeable drop in performance quality. Fans expressed disappointment online (X, TheQoo, and other online communities), with comments such as: “Not worth the ticket price,” “It sounds like he drank about five bottles of whiskey before singing,“ “He couldn’t or wouldn’t sing,” and “His live s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s are gone.”

Is this really how G-Dragon sings this song? It sounds like he drank about five bottles of whiskey before singing. pic.twitter.com/kcNwPbaEBS

— Aespann_jeans (@a1071364) March 29, 2025

Even G-Dragon acknowledged his struggle on stage, joking early in the show, “You know when your legs give out? I think that’s happening. I should’ve warmed up my body instead of just my nose.”

Trash Left Behind Sparks More Outrage

To make matters worse, the post-concert scene sparked another wave of controversy. After the show, photos surfaced on online forums showing piles of trash—merchandise boxes, plastic bags, and other litter—strewn across the venue. Netizens criticized the behavior of the audience, commenting: “Were there not enough trash bins?”, “People should’ve taken their trash home,” and “Really disappointing manners.”

G-Dragon’s Concert

Looking Ahead: More Shows and BIGBANG’s 20th Anniversary

Despite the setbacks, G-Dragon hinted at more to come. Near the end of the concert, he shared plans for an encore performance and a major event celebrating BIGBANG’s 20th anniversary in August 2026. “I’ll work on my strength and do more shows for Korean fans. I’ll do another one later this year—I want to,” he said.

Referencing his bandmates, he added, “Next year, BIGBANG turns 20. We’re still young, right? Still MZ generation. When you turn 20, you need a coming-of-age ceremony. I’m planning a 𝓈ℯ𝓍y, maybe cringey, but fun celebration,” teasing a potential reunion.

Giving Back Amid Criticism

Amid the controversy, it was revealed that G-Dragon plans to donate 300 million KRW (approximately $225,000) from concert proceeds to support recovery efforts for recent wildfires in North and South Gyeongsang provinces.

While his Übermensch tour started with turbulence, fans remain hopeful that future shows will reflect the level of artistry, polish, and professionalism long associated with G-Dragon’s name. With more concerts and anniversaries ahead, all eyes are on how the K-pop icon will bounce back.