G-Dragon (b. 1988)

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Biography

Kwon Ji-yong, best known as G-Dragon (지드래곤), is a South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. Dubbed the "King of K-pop", he rose to prominence as the leader of the South Korean boy band BigBang, which went on to become one of the best-selling boy bands in the world.

Timeline

The story of G-Dragon, told in moments.

1988 Birth

Born Kwon Ji-yong in Seoul. Recruited by YG Entertainment at age 8 after appearing on a children's TV show. He trained for six years before debuting.

What is it like training for six years as a child? Did you ever want to quit?

2006 Event

Debuted with BIGBANG. Five teenagers. Their first album flopped. The label almost dropped them. Then "Lies" hit in 2007 and everything changed.

How did it feel when BIGBANG's first album flopped? Was there a moment you thought it was over?

2009 Event

Released Heartbreaker, his first solo album. It sold 300,000 copies in South Korea. He was 21 and already designing his own stage costumes.

What does designing your own stage costumes give you that someone else's designs can't? Were you always into fashion?

2012 Event

BIGBANG's "Fantastic Baby" crossed 100 million YouTube views. G-Dragon's fashion choices started getting front-row invitations from Chanel and Saint Laurent.

How does a K-pop idol end up in the front row at Chanel? Is fashion another form of performance?

2017 Event

Enlisted for mandatory military service. Served as an active duty soldier. BIGBANG went on hiatus. He called it the longest two years of his life.

What did mandatory military service teach a global superstar? Was it really the longest two years?

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