G-Dragon kicks off solo tour 73 minutes late in freezing weather

K-pop legend hints at BIGBANG 2026 comeback

By KTimes

G-Dragon struggled to fully showcase his artistry at the opening concert of his world tour, “Ubermensch,” on Saturday, despite braving the sudden cold snap at Goyang Sports Complex in Gyeonggi Province. With wind chills below freezing, even the 30,000 fans who filled the stadium found their cheers subdued by the icy air.

The concert, his first solo performance in eight years, faced setbacks from the start. A sudden snowfall in the morning followed by strong gusts of wind caused delays with the VIP soundcheck event, held before the actual show.

Although fans were notified around 2 p.m. that the 6:30 p.m. show would be delayed by 30 minutes, it ultimately started at 7:43 p.m., a full 73 minutes late. As temperatures dropped further after sunset, some fans expressed frustration over the unexplained delay.

Wearing a jacket adorned with red roses, G-Dragon opened with “Power” and “Home Sweet Home,” tracks from his new album “Ubermensch,” quickly captivating the crowd. A surprise appearance by 2NE1's CL, his former labelmate, during “The Leaders” added to the excitement.

“It’s been so long, it really feels like my first concert,” he said. “A lot has happened recently, including some heartbreaking events, so I know it may not have been easy to be here. Thank you for taking the time, I'm truly honored.”

Regarding the delay, he apologized repeatedly, saying, “I’m sorry it’s so cold, and I’m even more sorry we started late in this weather.”

The album and tour title "Ubermensch" references Nietzsche’s concept of the Ubermensch — a person who transcends the limits of the human spirit. Though the agency described the show as a three-act transformation into such a being, the narrative on stage felt more like a reflective journey through G-Dragon’s past and present.

A massive air balloon robot resembling the letter “U,” formed by two mirrored figures, appeared on stage, which G-Dragon explained represents his duality, with one figure taken from a 2009 "Heartbreaker" album photo and the other from a recent shoot. The “U” motif also appeared above the stadium as part of a drone show.

Through a prerecorded video, G-Dragon spoke of overcoming trials and embracing self-growth, saying that the mindset of striving to become “the best version of oneself” is key. It was a message clearly intended not just for fans but for himself, an artist returning after years of silence and controversy.

Still, he added with a laugh, “Honestly, I used the word ‘Ubermensch’ because it sounded cool. It just means ‘keep going and do your best.’”

BIGBANG at 20

Despite multiple efforts to connect with fans, including coming offstage twice to sing up close, G-Dragon appeared visibly affected by the cold. During “Too Bad,” he dropped to his knees mid-choreography and admitted, “This is the first time my legs have ever given out,” flashing a sheepish smile.

Toward the end of the show, his vocals occasionally faltered, and the crowd’s usual energy felt dampened by the weather. Even an encore segment encouraging audience sing-alongs to “A Boy” yielded only faint responses.

Many fans began to leave early due to the cold and transportation concerns, and a planned aerial stunt using a lift was scrapped due to the wind.

Clearly disappointed, G-Dragon promised a return: “I’ll be back soon after finishing this world tour,” he said. He also teased a major reunion, announcing, “Next year, our group BIGBANG turns 20, it’ll be our coming-of-age,” signaling plans for a BIGBANG comeback in 2026.

As he wrapped up the night, he told fans, "It’s cold, but the rainbow of lights from your cheering sticks makes the field look like a beautiful flower garden. No matter what we look like now, if we keep challenging ourselves and trying new things, we’re all 'Ubermensches.'"

G-Dragon held a second show at the same venue on Sunday. His world tour will continue with concerts in Tokyo on May 10 and 11, followed by stops in the Philippines, Macau, Taiwan, Malaysia and Indonesia.

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