G-Dragon hopes to bridge generations through 'Good Day'

By KTimes

G-Dragon, a member of K-pop act BIGBANG, reflected on the group’s 20th anniversary and shared his thoughts on returning to the industry after a hiatus at an online press conference for MBC’s new variety show "Good Day."

G-Dragon attended the online event alongside comedian Jung Hyung-don, rapper Defconn and producer Kim Tae-ho on Thursday.

The program follows G-Dragon as he collaborates with people from various fields and generations to create a song that captures the essence of the year. As the producer, he will transform their stories into music. The process is filmed in a reality show format.

The variety show "Good Day" was inspired by G-Dragon’s desire to use music for a meaningful purpose. “I want to use the power of music for something good,” he said.

Throughout the project, he plans to meet people from different backgrounds to craft a special song that commemorates the year, with the lyrics shaped by their stories.

On the song's message, G-Dragon said, "At first, I envisioned something similar to 'We Are the World,' but after meeting the members, I realized I had been thinking too narrowly. Through conversations, my perspective broadened. Now, no matter what kind of song we create, the act of doing it together holds the most meaning. I'm exploring various possibilities."

He expressed his hope that this project would extend beyond a single release. "When I was younger, I listened to songs by senior Korean artists, and I hope that by naturally singing the roots of true Korean music, we can create a meaningful connection with both the current generation and international fans."

G-Dragon said that he had closely followed the activities of younger and senior artists during his time away from the spotlight.

“During my hiatus, I monitored a lot of performances by my seniors and juniors. I vividly remember watching videos of my seniors coming together on the same stage to show unity, which inspired my dream of becoming a singer,” he said.

He also acknowledged how K-pop has evolved into a global phenomenon with a different content system compared to the past.

“Since I’m preparing for my comeback, I wanted to reach out first and interact naturally," he said. "I consider myself part of the middle generation, and with BIGBANG’s 20th anniversary, I wanted to set the stage properly before returning.”

Star-studded guest lineup

G-Dragon also shared his excitement about working with Jung Hyung-don and Defconn again, with whom he previously worked with for entertainment TV shows.

“It’s been a long time, but I didn’t feel like anything had changed. Beyond the show itself, I just really enjoyed being with them. I laughed so much during filming that I didn’t even realize I could laugh that hard,” he said. “It was great to see them again, and I’m grateful they agreed to join the program. Of course, we’ve all aged naturally, but we had so much fun filming.”

Asked about his most memorable reunion, he immediately replied, “Jung Hyung-don,” eliciting laughter from the audience.

The star-studded guest lineup heightens anticipation for the show, featuring actors Hwang Jung-min and Kim Go-eun, along with well-known celebrities such as Kim Soo-hyun, Jung Hae-in, Yim Si-wan and Lee Soo-hyuk.

Seventeen's three-member unit BSS (Seungkwan, DK and Hoshi), along with TV personalities Hong Jin-kyung, Kian84 and chef Anh Sung-jae, will also appear.

"Good Day" is set to premiere on Feb. 16.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.