G-Dragon's exclusive contract with YG Entertainment ends

Singer G-Dragon [YONHAP]

G-Dragon of Big Bang's exclusive contract with YG Entertainment has expired, media outlets reported Tuesday.

There was no separate announcement from the agency, but its quarterly report for the first quarter of 2023, released via the Data Analysis, Retrieval and Transfer System, didn't list G-Dragon as one of the company's artists.

Big Bang debuted in 2006 as a five-member band under YG Entertainment and saw sensational success throughout the late 2000s and 2010s.

Its most recent digital single "Still Life," released in April 2022, also topped all of Korea's music streaming platforms.

Members Seungri and T.O.P left the band, while members Daesung and Taeyang found new management.

Until news of the quarterly report broke, G-Dragon was known as the only member of the band still with the agency.

YG confirmed on Tuesday that its exclusive contract with G-Dragon has expired. However, it is considering signing separate contracts with the artist in the future for advertisement deals or music activities.

The news comes shortly after T.O.P said on his social media that he had already departed from the boy band some time ago. His contract with YG Entertainment had expired before that, in February 2022.

BY HALEY YANG [yang.hyunjoo@joongang.co.kr]