BIGBANG's G-Dragon has been reportedly booked for probing by South Korean police due to a drug-related violation.
News about the K-pop superstar's involvement in an alleged drug-related case was reported on the evening of October 25, 2023. Details include that the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency booked the K-pop idol without detention under the violation of the "Act on the Control of Narcotics, Etc."
The case of G-Dragon, whose real name is Kwon Ji-yong, is currently being investigated along with another Korean artist's drug-related case. Recently, Parasite star Lee Sun-Kyun was also booked and accused of drug use.
The police clarified that although G-Dragon was identified through a compulsory investigation following Lee Sun-Kyun's case. Both are two separate cases and not in any way related to each other.
"This is a separate case that has no connection to Lee," said the police.
Meanwhile, Korean media has urged YG Entertainment to comment on G-Dragon's issue. YG Entertainment has been the idol's agency since 2006 until his exclusive contract ended in June 2023. "[G-Dragon] is currently not an artist under our agency, so it is difficult for us to make an official response," the agency said in a statement.
The K-pop star also faced a drug-related controversy in 2011 after he was accused of smoking marijuana in Japan. In his defense, G-Dragon said that he used a "cigarette from someone he didn't know" and realized it was marijuana after a few puffs. Upon investigation, authorities only issued a warning to the idol since only a small amount of marijuana was found in his body.
G-Dragon rose to fame as the leader of the famous boy group BIGBANG. In 2009, he debuted his first solo album, Heartbreaker. He had also been called the "King of K-Pop" for his music and influence on the industry.
Following the news of his departure from YG, the 35-year-old artist actually revealed in a June interview that he is working on his next solo comeback.
