G-Dragon, leader of the group BigBang, has landed in a racism controversy over an outfit he wore during an overseas performance, prompting an official apology from his agency.
On May 4, Galaxy Corporation said in a statement, "We deeply apologize that the artist’s stage outfit at the K-SPARK show held in Macau on May 2 included wording that was inappropriate in its social and cultural context." The company added, "This incident reminded us of the importance of cultural sensitivity and prior review," vowing to strengthen internal vetting procedures going forward.
The controversy stemmed from the T-shirt G-Dragon wore on stage. The outfit included a term referring to Black people that is internationally recognized today as racist and derogatory. As footage of G-Dragon performing in the shirt spread rapidly on social media, criticism mounted among fans in and outside Korea. Some fans demanded an official explanation.
The agency emphasized, "We will act with greater responsibility so that all of the artist’s activities respect diverse cultural backgrounds and values," and promised to prevent a recurrence.
Meanwhile, BigBang, the group to which G-Dragon belongs, is gearing up for a concert tour marking their 20th debut anniversary. Attention is now on how this controversy may impact future activities.