G-DRAGON set the internet buzzing after reuniting BIGBANG as a full group on DAESUNG’s YouTube channel, "Zip Daesung", for a 19th-anniversary house party ― and he dropped a tantalizing tease about what’s coming for their 20th year.
The celebration rolled out over two uploads last week ― a teaser on the 19th and the full episode on the 22nd. "Zip Daesung"s first BIGBANG reunion episode nine months ago has racked up about 15.8 million views; the new 19th-anniversary special has already sprinted past 2.3 million within two days.
G-DRAGON, TAEYANG and DAESUNG showed up together, with famous friends popping in to toast the milestone, including CL, SEVENTEEN’s HOSHI, actor Ko Kyoung-pyo, Son Na-eun, and more ― a steady stream of cameos that kept the party energy high.
For the first time, G-DRAGON slipped into host mode as “MC Ji-yong,” introducing his bandmates with playful flair and tossing off quick-witted asides that had everyone cracking up. He hyped TAEYANG’s every comment with big reactions and beamed with pride at DAESUNG’s polished MC skills. When DAESUNG told him, “You nailed it today,” G-DRAGON grinned and shot back, “Told you I still got it.”
A nostalgia room curated by the production team turned the clock back: early albums, debut-era photos, a throwback from their 2006 first solo concert, snapshots from their first fan-sign, and a recent group pic from TAEYANG’s concert. Huddled together, the trio relived the memories ― and even recreated a few of the old photos for fans.
Most of all, G-DRAGON stirred anticipation for BIGBANG’s “coming-of-age” 20th anniversary next year. “There’s almost too much to sketch ― that’s the problem,” he said with a smile. “But if you keep drawing, it becomes the picture.” DAESUNG added that preparations are already underway, hinting that the band is mapping things out step by step.
Fans flooded social media and forums with excitement: “I’m already counting down to BIGBANG’s 20th,” “Haven’t seen GD this high-energy in ages,” and “Thanks for keeping BIGBANG going for 19 years.” One sentimental favorite made the rounds again: “I borrowed someone’s youth and was happy ― I’ll love them in any form.”
Meanwhile, G-DRAGON is in the middle of his third world trek, the G-DRAGON 2025 WORLD TOUR [Übermensch]. He’s completed shows in 12 cities so far and hits Las Vegas on Aug. 31 before heading to Los Angeles and then Paris. In tandem, his "G-DRAGON MEDIA EXHIBITION: Übermensch" is showing in multiple cities ― after stops in Seoul, Tokyo and Taiwan, it runs in Hong Kong through Sept. 7 and in Osaka from Aug. 30 to Sept. 15.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)