Dispatch has released a new article arguing against YG Entertainment’s statement on G-Dragon’s hospitalization.

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The news outlet first reported on June 25 that the BIGBANG member is being hospitalized in a VIP room for colonels at a military hospital and is receiving special treatment. The reports were denied by YG Entertainment.

In response to YG Entertainment saying that there are no rooms specifically for colonels at the hospital, Dispatch checked the operating system of the hospital and found that room 311 of ward 301, which G-Dragon was staying in, is classified as a “colonel hospital room.”

According to Dispatch, the only 1-person hospital rooms are on the third and sixth floors. The colonel room is on third floor and cannot be used by typical soldiers. The 1-person room on sixth floor is used for special circumstances like those who need to be quarantined.

On G-Dragon adhering to the sick leave period and using up his personal vacation time to receive treatment, Dispatch shared that he went on sick leave from May 16 through 25 and extended until June 1. He then went on a sick leave from June 13 through 16, used up personal vacation time on June 17 and 18, and was hospitalized on June 19. He is expected to be discharged on June 28, which means he will have spent 33 days outside of the army base over two months.

The Ministry of National Defense has released an official statement in response to Dispatch’s new article.

The Yangzhou Armed Forces Hospital, which G-Dragon is staying at, does not have a “colonel room.” The image presented by Dispatch on room 311 of ward 301 being a “colonel room” is because the software sources were not edited when the operating system was updated in 2012. Soldiers and executives can all use the room if decided as such by the medical team. Nine soldiers, noncommissioned officers, commissioned officers, etc. have used the room since 2017.

The Ministry of National Defense also explained that soldiers can go on up to 30 days of sick leave in a year. G-Dragon used three days in April, 17 days in May, and six days in June for a total of 26 days. He has been hospitalized at the Yangzhou Armed Forces Hospital since June 19, and this period does not count as a sick leave.

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YG Entertainment has released a statement on G-Dragon’s reported special treatment at a military hospital.

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On June 25, Dispatch published a report saying that the BIGBANG member has been on sick leave from the military since June 19 due to ankle problems and will be discharged from the hospital on June 28. The article reported that he is in a VIP hospital room for colonels, which has air conditioning, a refrigerator, and a TV, contrary to the other soldiers of the same rank who stay in rooms of four, six, or eight. Also according to Dispatch’s report, someone appearing to be a manager visited past the allowed visiting hours.

In response, YG Entertainment revealed an official statement that begins, “As G-Dragon is currently of soldier status, it took some time to check on the situation, so we ask for your understanding.”

“We heard that G-Dragon is currently receiving rehabilitation treatment at the hospital after recently receiving surgery on his ankle. Mostly family and close friends visited, and there were no staff from the agency.”

“Checking with his family, the report is very malicious and not true. There was no special treatment, there is no room for colonels at the hospital, and he was hospitalized following the normal procedure,” the agency explains.

On his condition, YG Entertainment shared, “Since before his enlistment, G-Dragon expressed pain due to a dislocated shoulder and spraining his ankle constantly during the world tour, and his condition worsened further during military training.

“The examination results showed a serious condition as bone fragments were going around damaging his ligaments and muscles, causing infection. It was an inevitable situation for him to receive surgery to get bone fragments removed, and we are aware that he was recommended a large university hospital rather than the military hospital and received surgery for the removal of the bone fragments and ligament reconstruction.”

“As all knee and ankle surgeries are, rehabilitation treatment must be carried out with surgery. As it is a very important process of treatment, we are aware that he is receiving rehabilitation treatment at the military hospital.”

YG Entertainment clarified what was reported regarding his hospital room. “G-Dragon’s hospital room is not a VIP room but a small 1-person hospital room for normal soldiers. This was a suitable action taken to prevent commotion and chaos at a hospital with lots of visitors, and we have confirmed that the special treatment mentioned by the news outlet is not true.”

“In addition, we have confirmed that G-Dragon is strictly adhering to the military’s sick leave period and is receiving rehabilitation treatment by giving up his personal vacation time,” the statement concludes.

G-Dragon enlisted in the military on February 27 and is set to be discharged on November 26, 2019. It was revealed in May that he was receiving surgery on his ankle.

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[OSEN=김은애 기자] It’s not an exaggeration to say that music charts of early 2018 have been dominated by YG Entertainment. Now it’s time for BIGBANG’s SEUNGRI to make comeback. YG’s representative producer YANG HYUN SUK raise expectations on SEUNGRI’s upcoming solo album.

On June 23, YANG HYUN SUK wrote “Although the preparation of the album was burdening since he is a member of BIGBANG, but after finishing the album, I feel like this is why he’s one of BIGBANG… SEUNGRI, YG’s 5^th runner of 2018”. He displayed his affections towards BIGBANG as well as his confidence on SEUNGRI’s upcoming album at the same time.

YANG HYUN SUK mentioned all albums released by artists from YG Entertainment that performed well in music charts this year. Artists from YG Entertainment are dominating the music charts since the beginning of 2018, with iKON as the first runners with BIGBANG, WINNER, and BLACKPINK that followed. 

iKON changed boy-group history with the title song ‘LOVE SCENARIO’ from their 2^nd official album ‘RETURN’, released back in January. ‘LOVE SCENARIO’ topped real-time, daily, weekly, and monthly charts, as well as setting a milestone by maintaining their top spot for 43 consecutive days. The song is still ranked high in various music charts. 

March was BIGBANG’s month. Starting with G-DRAGON’s enlistment on February, TAEYANG and DAESUNG also enlisted on March, causing vacancy of the group. BIGBANG gifted ‘FLOWER ROAD’ for the fans, which was a song featuring all members of BIGBANG released in 1 year and 3 months. The song achieved an ‘all-kill’ status in music charts, proving their status as a ‘national group’. 

WINNER also received explosive response by releasing their 2^nd official album ‘EVERYD4Y’ back in April. As well as dominating all music charts with the title song ‘EVERYDAY’, all tracks from the album remained in the top ranks for a long time. Their song ‘REALLY REALLY’ released last year on April also performed well in charts, and received attention from music markets overseas.

The next was BLACKPINK. They received the ‘YG uptrend’ baton as the 4^th runners of YG Entertainment in 2018. The title song ‘DDU-DU DDU-DU’ from BLACKPINK’s first mini album ‘SQUARE UP’ is maintaining its ‘all-kill’ march in major Korean music charts for 9 consecutive days. Another long-run dominance in music charts is expected, following the senior groups of YG Entertainment. 

Furthermore, the MV for ‘DDU-DU DDU-DU’ surpassed 10 million views in 6 hours, 20 million views in 13 hours, 30 million views in 23 hours, 40 million views in 27 hours, 50 million views in 50 hours, 60 million views in 82 hours, and 70 million views in 120 hours, sweeping all time related records previously held by K-Pop girl groups. 

BLACKPINK is also starting a ‘revolution’ in foreign markets as well. The song was placed at no. 1 on iTunes Album Charts in 44 different countries including Japan, as well as topping Japan’s Oricon Digital Album Weekly Chart and Recochoku Album Daily Rankings. They also won 5 crowns in QQ Music, which is China’s largest music platform, leading to a global BLACKPINK syndrome. 

Famous press from the U.S including Billboard and Forbes highly praised BLACKPINK by writing “BLACKPINK is starting a revolution” and that “They are setting milestones with the release of their first-ever mini album”. 

Now, SEUNGRI is expected to put a definite point on YG’s uptrend. After releasing two solo mini albums on 2011 and in 2013, he will release his first-ever official solo album and be active as a solo artist in 5 years.

Since artists from YG have swept the charts this year and the songs are still ranked high in various music charts, expectations on SEUNGRI’s upcoming release is also high. While BLACKPINK is setting milestones as YG’s 4^th runners of 2018, people are wondering what kind of music SEUNGRI will present as YG’s 5^th runner of 2018, and how many fans he will be able to fascinate with his music. 

2018. 6. 23.