G-Dragon Concludes World Tour with Spectacular Encore in Seoul

G-Dragon, the iconic K-pop star, has once again proven his prowess, addressing any doubts about his skills head-on. "I'm back. It's G-Dragon," he declared, letting his name speak for itself.

On the 14th, G-Dragon held his concert 'G-DRAGON 2025 WORLD TOUR Ubermensch IN SEOUL: ENCORE, presented by Coupang Play' at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. This performance marked the third and final show in Seoul, concluding his extensive 39-show world tour.

The venue was awash in yellow, with fans wielding G-Dragon's personal light sticks and even Big Bang light sticks, despite the latter not syncing with the venue's Bluetooth system. Fans, however, brought them to show their long-standing support for G-Dragon since his Big Bang days.

Amidst the cheers, G-Dragon took the stage wearing a crown. "This is the finale show in my true hometown, Seoul. I'm going to give it my all," he promised. Despite his extensive experience, he admitted to feeling nervous, describing it as a "pleasant thrill." He expressed his joy at fulfilling his promise to return, saying, "Didn't I say I'd be back?"

Reflecting on the tour's kickoff in March at the Goyang Sports Complex, which was delayed by 73 minutes, G-Dragon joked, "It was cold outside, but it's better than March." Returning to an indoor venue after eight months, he humorously added, "I started with a natural disaster, so my heart was always heavy. I've built a roof since then."

The setlist was a rich mix of his early hits and latest tracks, including 'Power,' 'Drama,' 'Heartbreaker,' and 'One Year Station.' The performance was visually enhanced with various effects, such as glittering confetti during 'Crayon' and butterfly visuals during 'Butterfly,' creating a vibrant and immersive experience.

The light stick choreography was particularly impressive. During the 'We Like 2 Party' stage with Big Bang members, the light sticks were synchronized to glow yellow, creating a unified sea of yellow in the audience.

However, there were some technical glitches, such as a screen malfunction during the opening 'Power' performance, which affected the audience's immersion. Despite G-Dragon's strong vocal condition, the loud backing track made it difficult to focus on his voice.

The concert featured several performances by Big Bang as a group, including 'Home Sweet Home,' 'We Like 2 Party,' and 'Fool of Tears,' delighting long-time fans. The chemistry among the members was evident as they smiled at each other and engaged closely with the audience.

Daesung praised G-Dragon's vocals, saying, "His voice sounds 18 years younger." Taeyang shared a rare moment, "For the first time in 20 years, G-Dragon asked me how to warm up his voice." Daesung added, "When it's just the three of us, the pressure of individual roles decreases, and we create the picture everyone expects."

G-Dragon also featured special guests, including dancer Bada from Mnet's 'Street Woman Fighter,' who joined him for a surprise 'Smoke' challenge during the 'Too Bad' performance.

Starting in March in Goyang, G-Dragon's tour spanned cities like Tokyo, Manila, Osaka, Macau, Sydney, Melbourne, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Hong Kong, Hanoi, New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Paris. The Seoul encore marked the end of his 17-city, 39-show tour.

Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia one@tenasia.co.kr