• G-Dragon Donates All Winnings from 'You Quiz on the Block' to His Anti-Drug Foundation

    G-Dragon, whose real name is Kwon Ji-yong, has made a meaningful donation to his anti-drug foundation. After facing drug use allegations last year, he decided to donate all his winnings from the tvN quiz show "You Quiz on the Block" to the foundation he established.

    In the episode that aired on October 30, G-Dragon participated in the quiz and won 1 million KRW (about $1,000). The "You Quiz" production team announced, "The prize money has been donated to the JusPeace Foundation, which was founded by GD."

    The JusPeace Foundation focuses on tackling drug abuse and other social issues. G-Dragon launched the foundation in December of last year, combining the concepts of "justice" and "peace." As the honorary chairman, he explained, "Breaking down prejudices and recognizing differences is justice. Practicing justice helps create peace." He has also donated 300 million KRW (approximately $225,000) to the foundation.

    During the show, G-Dragon opened up about the tough times he faced in his career, particularly regarding the drug use allegations. Although the police investigation concluded he was not guilty, the experience was still challenging for him.

    He shared, "Living a glamorous life for over half my life, I faced situations that weren't my fault. I felt pushed into a corner without answers. I shouldn't have seen the corner as the end; there's always more space behind it. I felt trapped and suffocated, making it hard to move forward. I started to think about dangerous things." He added, "I just want to exist as myself and not repeat past crises. In the past, I tried to overcome everything, but that became the problem. Now, I'm okay with the possibility of losing. I'm not fighting anymore. I feel stable now."

    On top of this, G-Dragon is set to release his new digital single "POWER" on various music streaming sites at 6 PM KST on October 31. This will be his first solo track in 7 years and 4 months since his mini-album "Kwon Ji Yong," and fans are eagerly awaiting it.

    He gave a sneak peek of the song on "You Quiz," saying, "'POWER' is a song about strength. For me, strength is 'music.' During my 7-year hiatus, I realized the significant impact of media as an outsider. This song includes satire about media power and a message about combining different strengths effectively."

    Source (1)

  • Lee Kyung Gyu secretly helped Hong Jin Kyung debut on TV and she didn’t even know for years

    Lee Kyung Gyu's star-making influence goes beyond Kang Ho Dong, as Hong Jin Kyung shares how he helped her kickstart her career.

    On the April 24 episode of KBS 2TV’s Problem Child in House, legendary comedian Lee Kyung Gyu appeared as a guest—and a touching story from the past was revealed.

    Hong Jin Kyung surprised everyone when she said, “He’s the teacher for all of us. Personally, he’s the one who helped me debut.” She even pinned a carnation flower on his chest to show her gratitude.

    Lee Kyung Gyu smiled and said, “I still remember when Hong Jin Kyung walked up the stairs onto the stage for the first time.”

    Hong Jin Kyung then shared her journey to becoming a star. “I joined a supermodel contest, but only the top 3 winners were noticed in broadcasting. I got a special prize, so I had no chance to be on TV."

    She continued, "At first, I was just a backup for a show. But somehow, I became a regular the next week. I never knew why."

    She added, "I thought the PD gave me a shot. But then one day, I randomly met Kyung Gyu sunbae, and he told me it was actually him who recommended me.”

    Kim Sook asked with a smile, “So Kyung Gyu sunbae said nice things about you to the PD?”

    Lee Kyung Gyu playfully replied, “Don’t say it in such a childish way,” making everyone laugh.

    He then explained more seriously, “The show was Scoop TV Entertainment, and I was pretty much the main MC. When Jin Kyung showed up, I saw her determination and passion."

    He added, "While others didn’t seem serious, she really stood out. I told the PD, ‘She seems unique. Why not keep her on the show?’”

    Kim Jong Kook chimed in, “So if the main MC said that, doesn’t that mean you basically got her in?”

    That made Lee Kyung Gyu happy. He grinned and replied, “Exactly! You speak well. Be like him!”

    He added, “After that, Jin Kyung’s career took off. She started doing shows with Lee Young Ja and just kept going.”

    Fans are now calling Lee Kyung Gyu not only a top MC, but also a quiet star-maker behind the scenes!

    Source: [1]