8 Years and 74 Minutes of Waiting... G-Dragon Braving the Late Winter Cold [Review]

World Tour Concert 'Ubermensch' in Goyang
Audience Boos After One-Hour Delay
Lukewarm Response to Unstable Live Performance

Singer G-Dragon is performing the world tour 'Webermensch' stage at Goyang Sports Complex in Gyeonggi on the 29th. Photo by Galaxy Corporation

Just as the late cold snap seemed to envy spring, singer G-Dragon (real name Kwon Ji-yong)'s comeback stage was far from smooth. At the end of March, when subzero temperatures and strong winds swept through, the 'Ubermensch' (?bermensch, a human who has overcome spiritual limits proposed by philosopher Nietzsche) returned after 8 years.

G-Dragon's world tour concert 'Ubermensch,' held on the 29th at Goyang Sports Complex in Gyeonggi Province, started at 7:43 PM, 1 hour and 13 minutes later than the scheduled 6:30 PM. The organizers had announced a schedule change to 7 PM on the day of the concert, but the actual performance began 43 minutes after that. With no further announcements about the delay, the audience waiting in the cold shouted "Come out!" and booed.

After 74 minutes, G-Dragon took the stage and opened with his new song "POWER." As he raised both hands energetically to declare his return, cheers erupted from the crowd. After the song ended, he grabbed the microphone and shouted, "I promised you. I said I would come back." His voice was filled with excitement and emotion. He then sang "Home Sweet Home" and "ONE OF A KIND," raising the atmosphere.

G-Dragon performed a total of 23 songs, including hits like "Crayon," "That XX," "Butterfly," "Crooked," and "Heartbreaker," as well as tracks from his recently released third album "Ubermensch," such as "TOO BAD" and "DRAMA." His dazzling outfits, befitting an 'icon of the era,' were also a highlight. He appeared wearing a red jacket adorned with roses, then changed into a white coat and a jacket with wing decorations. Later, he took the stage in a green suit and fedora, delivering his signature swag-filled performance.

Midway through the show, a large air balloon robot (ABR) shaped like two figures facing each other was erected. G-Dragon explained that it symbolized himself at the time of his solo debut album "Heartbreaker" (2009) and his current self preparing the new album. When the two figures merge, they form the letter 'U,' which is also the core concept of this album, Ubermensch. He joked, "It looks profound, but I just wanted to make a smiling face," adding, "It means to keep going forward diligently."

Singer G-Dragon is performing the world tour 'Webermensch' stage at Goyang Sports Complex in Gyeonggi on the 29th. Photo by Galaxy Corporation

This concert was the result of 8 years of contemplation and preparation by G-Dragon. While emphasizing a positive attitude toward life and the will to overcome limits, the overall completeness was somewhat disappointing. Due to the delay and the long wait in the cold, the audience's reaction was relatively subdued compared to other artists' concerts. There was almost no group singing, and many attendees left their seats during the latter part of the show.

G-Dragon's live performance was also unstable. From the middle of the concert, he repeatedly refrained from singing the high notes, and during the "TOO BAD" stage, he seemed to lose strength and sat down. When he went down to the audience for fan service, a dangerous situation arose as fans surged all at once. Additionally, some audience members felt uncomfortable as close-ups focused on the provocative performances of female dancers.

Carrying a heavy burden, G-Dragon is embarking on his world tour. After performing in 8 cities across 7 Asian countries, including Tokyo Dome in Japan and the Philippine Arena, he plans to hold another concert in Korea within this year. Next year, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the group Big Bang's debut, a special event is also in preparation. He promised, "When I turn twenty, I should have a coming-of-age ceremony, right? I will come back with a bang."