BIGBANG member G-Dragon, a true stage legend, found himself at the center of a performance controversy for the very first time in his 18-year career.

On December 25th, G-Dragon took the stage at SBS’s 2024 Gayo Daejeon in Incheon to close out the year’s biggest music event.

It was his first appearance on a year-end music stage in eight years, and after his stunning performance at the 2024 MAMA Awards in Osaka last month, expectations were sky-high.

Introduced as the "irreplaceable living legend who dominates the stage with his mere presence," he performed his new song "Power" along with popular hits like "Manjeongsin" and "Crooked" to pump up the crowd.

However, despite the excitement, the aftermath of G-Dragon’s performance was filled with mixed opinions. While many praised his charismatic stage presence, others criticized his "lack of live performance skills."

G-Dragon used an AR (augmented reality) track while singing live, but his strained vocals and selective live singing raised eyebrows for some viewers.

This backlash was unexpected, especially considering G-Dragon’s reputation as a solid performer. So, what went wrong? The issue seemed to lie with the Gayo Daejeon sound system.

Fans and viewers noticed G-Dragon struggling with his in-ear monitors, frequently adjusting them and even mouthing "It’s not coming out."

It turns out that due to microphone problems, he had to rely more on his live voice, which led to the less-than-perfect performance. As a result, both G-Dragon and his fans were left feeling disappointed.

Despite the technical difficulties, G-Dragon handled the situation like a pro. After the performance, he showed his gratitude to the fans by leaving a bouquet of flowers in the audience and taking a commemorative photo with his dancers, reminding everyone why he’s considered one of the original idols.

When he was named "Favorite Idol" at the event, he humorously remarked, "I thought I was the ‘oldest idol,’ but I guess I’m still considered an idol. Thank you."

While the performance may not have gone as planned, G-Dragon’s professionalism and charm still shone through, leaving fans with something to cheer about despite the setbacks.

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BTS's Jin continues to shine bright with his massive popularity, securing the No. 1 spot in the MY1PICK weekly rankings for an impressive 43 consecutive weeks!

In the MY1PICK K-POP Individual Category Weekly Ranking for the third week of December (December 16–22), Jin earned a massive 6,154,905 hearts, keeping his position at the top. From the 5th week of February to the 3rd week of December, Jin has been unbeatable in the weekly rankings, proving he has an enormous fanbase and global influence.

But Jin’s achievements don’t stop there. In November, he dominated the K-POP Individual Category Monthly Ranking, topping it with 25,452,283 hearts. He has held the No. 1 spot for 11 months straight, from January to November, showing his continuous popularity throughout the year.

Jin also claimed victory in the One Pick Chart’s “November Monthly Chart K-POP (Solo)” category, holding the No. 1 position for 8 months in a row, from April to November. On top of that, he won the 2024 Season Chart K-POP (SOLO) for both the 2nd and 3rd quarters, making him the best One Pick star of the season.

The Season Chart awards honor artists who have consistently earned love from fans, with a physical trophy given to the top artist. Jin’s back-to-back victories solidify his place as one of the most beloved stars in K-pop.

Jin’s fan power doesn’t end with rankings. He’s also triumphed in numerous themed votes, taking first place in categories like “Star You Want to Collect All Photo Cards Of,” “Star You Want to See First Pitch at a Baseball Game,” “Best Cooking Genius Idol,” “Star Who Would Be the Best Child,” and “Star You Would Fall in Love With at First Sight.” His reward advertisement for the “Star You Want to Collect All Photo Cards Of” vote began airing on December 26 and can be seen at Yeoksam Station until December 30.

Meanwhile, Jin’s first solo album Happy was released on November 15 and quickly became a global hit, showcasing his talents as a solo artist. He held a special showcase, Jin ‘Happy’ Special Stage, on November 16 and 17, where fans were captivated by his beautiful vocals and flawless live performance.

Jin has also been keeping busy with appearances on popular variety shows like Salon Drip 2, Neighborhood Star K4, and Limousine Service. He’s also appeared on famous American talk shows, including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Japan’s top music program Venue 101, where he impressed fans with his humor and solid live performances. His reputation as the “Vocal King” and “Live King” is stronger than ever!

As if that wasn't enough, Jin is also gaining attention globally for singing the main theme song for the new tvN drama Ask the Stars. Jin's talents continue to wow the world, and it's clear he's not slowing down anytime soon!

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