There was nothing to eat at the rumored feast. Even if the 'bad weather' that delayed the start of the performance by 75 minutes was a setback, the way they handled such variables and the live stage that resembled a disaster was far from the reputation G-Dragon had built up until now.

G-Dragon held his solo concert 'G-DRAGON 2025 WORLD TOUR [Ubermensch]' (hereafter referred to as 'Ubermensch') at the Goyang Sports Complex Main Stadium in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on the 29th and 30th, marking his return to the stage after 8 years.

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Although G-Dragon returned to the stage after 8 years, things went awry even before it started. Due to sudden bad weather, the performance, originally scheduled to start at 6:30 PM, was announced to be delayed to 7 PM. The misfortune did not stop there. Even when it was 7 PM, G-Dragon had not yet appeared.

Five minutes past the scheduled time, a message appeared on the screen stating, “Thank you for coming to the performance in this cold weather. Due to unavoidable bad weather, some performances and special effects may be limited for safety reasons. This decision was made with the safety of the audience as the top priority, so we ask for your understanding.” However, this announcement only mentioned the limitations on stage production due to bad weather, with no mention of the delay. Some audience members, tired of waiting in the freezing 2-degree weather, began to boo.

Finally, at 7:43 PM, G-Dragon appeared with the opening VCR that many had been waiting for. After performing the pre-release tracks 'POWER' and 'HOME SWEET HOME' (Feat. Taeyang, Daesung) from his third studio album 'Übermensch', he said, “G-Dragon is back,” and added, “I’m quite shy. If you don’t give me a lot of strength, I might sulk and go back,” but still did not apologize for the 75-minute delay.

Only after performing the next stages, 'SUPER STAR' and 'INTRO. Kwon Ji Yong', did G-Dragon briefly say, “I’m sorry to start like this in the cold weather.” He later added, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the cold. I asked the heavens, but it seems it didn’t reach them,” but this too was an inappropriate apology. The 'spring cold' is a natural phenomenon that G-Dragon cannot control, and the real point he should apologize for is making the audience wait indefinitely in the cold.

Above all, the disappointing point was that despite the weather forecast predicting rain, snow, and strong winds across the country, there was no preparation for 'strong winds' in advance, nor was there a 'Plan B' in case bad weather prevented the stage setup. No matter how much an outdoor concert is affected by the weather, one has to wonder if the damage from the 'strong winds' was serious enough to delay the performance by 75 minutes. Many artists who have performed at stadiums before G-Dragon have faced weather variables such as rain during the concert period, but in most cases, they activated a Plan B to change the stage production to minimize the damage to the audience. It is necessary to reflect on why G-Dragon was particularly weak against 'strong winds' and whether there were really no other measures taken besides 'watching the weather'.

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However, the true disaster of the concert was on stage. From the rapidly cracking voice after the opening stage to the sight of legs giving out during the dance, it was pitiful enough to forget the cold.

G-Dragon managed to perform the early stages like 'POWER', 'HOME SWEET HOME', and 'SUPER STAR' without controversy, but as the concert progressed, he seemed to struggle, and his vocal ability to hit the right pitch became painful to listen to. His voice was strained and he could not maintain pitch, causing him to collapse the melody line himself. In some cases, the audience's singing along was the only way to recall the original melody of the songs performed.

It is hard to excuse the decline in quality due to the speaker sound and strong winds at the outdoor venue, as many artists have performed at the Goyang Sports Complex Main Stadium, and none have faced criticism for their live performance due to sound issues. Even if the problem with the live performance was external and the organizers neglected the live sound facilities, which are more important than stage equipment, they cannot escape responsibility because it is G-Dragon.

It is difficult to define whether it was due to poor condition management before the performance or G-Dragon's current ability, but one thing is certain: nothing is suitable for a singer who makes a living on stage. This raises doubts about whether G-Dragon's sense of responsibility for his name value was only this much.

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The order of the audience also left much to be desired. When G-Dragon approached the audience, some suddenly stood up and rushed forward, which seemed far from mature viewing manners, and the organizers' failure to restrain such audience behavior was also disappointing.

Moreover, the sight of merchandise boxes and plastic scattered all over the concert floor made one wonder if the rude audience members who littered were really just a few. Before the concert, G-Dragon and the organizing company Coupang Play had asked the nearby residents for understanding regarding the noise that would occur during the rehearsal and on the day of the concert, gifting them a bundle of 20-liter garbage bags. One wonders if there was a specific group that G-Dragon needed to gift garbage bags to.

Some have suggested that the influx of fans from certain countries contributed to the issue. However, this argument is also unfounded. As K-pop receives global love, there are many overseas fans attending concerts of not only G-Dragon but also domestic artists, and it is rare for issues related to audience order and littering to arise to this extent.

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‘Ubermensch’ was G-Dragon's solo concert held after 8 years since the '2017 World Tour Act III: M.O.T.T.E', and it garnered much anticipation and interest, but the actual outcome was disappointing. Of course, there were good points. The stage setup and visuals, which incorporated tech technology, were excellent and beautiful. Utilizing AI technology, the Saturday performance showcased Daesung and Taeyang, who could not take the stage, and displayed the world of G-Dragon's music through the screen, while the highlight of the outdoor concert, the dazzling fireworks, enhanced the viewing experience. Additionally, the drone show that created G-Dragon's face was truly impressive.

Nevertheless, G-Dragon's concert ultimately left a bitter aftertaste. Considering the many variables, the responses from G-Dragon and the organizers were insufficient, which significantly affected the overall quality of the concert.

Meanwhile, leaving the disappointment behind, G-Dragon will visit 8 cities in 7 Asian countries, starting with Tokyo, Japan, on May 10 and 11, followed by Bulacan in the Philippines, Osaka in Japan, Macau in China, Taiwan, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Jakarta in Indonesia, and Hong Kong.

[Geum Bit-na, MK Sports Reporter]