For over a year and a half, one of the biggest names in K-pop hasn't been releasing any music — he's been performing military service, which is compulsory for all men in South Korea https://t.co/1GXEZn63kl

— CNN (@CNN) October 26, 2019

Seoul (CNN)For over a year and a half, one of the biggest names in K-pop hasn’t been releasing any music — he’s been performing military service, which is compulsory for all men in South Korea.

On Saturday morning, to the delight of fans around the world, G-Dragon’s 20 months of military service finally came to an end.

Hordes of fans waited outside army headquarters in Yongin, southeast of Seoul, to greet the 31-year-old BIGBANG rapper, who emerged early on Saturday morning wearing a military uniform and beret.

“I’m back after serving military service well. Thank you for waiting and coming here,” he told fans Saturday. “I’m not a soldier anymore. I will return to my job and (be) faithful to my work.”

Thousands more took to Twitter to celebrate his return. The hashtag #ONE_OF_A_KIND_GD — a reference to his 2012 solo EP — trended worldwide on Twitter on Saturday morning Korea time.

G-Dragon — whose real name is Kwon Ji-yong — is a member of K-pop group BIGBANG, which has had huge success in both South Korea and around the world.

The South Korean government even played the group’s 2015 hit “Bang, Bang, Bang,” over the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to taunt their neighbors — with whom they are still technically at war, despite recent rapprochement — and make North Koreans curious about the south.

Even though G-Dragon is now free to record and perform once more, it’s unclear what the future holds for BIGBANG. In March, the band’s youngest member Seungri quit K-pop after it emerged he was being investigated on suspicion of violating South Korea’s prostitution law.

Stars in the military

Although G-Dragon is one of K-pop’s biggest names, he was still required to serve in the military.

South Korea has compulsory conscription, and almost all healthy men are required to serve time in the army. Under South Korean law, men must start their military service by the time they are 28. In the past, conscripts needed to serve two years, but that’s being gradually reduced so that by June 2020, conscripts will only need to serve 1 year and six months.

This can severely derail careers just as they’re taking off, and there are exemptions for top artists, musicians, and sports players, who don’t need to serve at a military base although they must still complete four weeks of basic training. People who win certain classical music competitions qualify for this exemption — but top K-pop stars do not.

In recent years, there’s been a debate over whether that exemption should be broadened to include major K-pop bands such as BTS, which has had huge international success — and built up South Korean soft power in the process.

Earlier this month, the government said they would review the rules around military exemptions.

In 2018, South Korean lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung brought BTS up at the National Assembly meeting, saying the current rules were a “double standard.”

“If you win first place in classical music competition for violinist or pianist, you can receive exemption but not if you win first place on the Billboard chart with commercial music,” he said.

[…]

Julia Hollingsworth reported from Hong Kong. Jake Kwon reported from Seoul. Source: CNN

Before discharge:

(Photo) Last picture with G-Dragon in the army before discharge 2019-10-25/26 ?️

? click for more: ? https://t.co/Vq8x6KjTQx ?#BIGBANG #빅뱅 #BBMusic pic.twitter.com/EsPrtXjwwF

— BIGBANG 빅뱅 music (@_BBmusic) October 25, 2019

Fan Campaigns and Fans waiting:

Fans in China booked advertising to welcome G-Dragon back.

The Korean fansites have united as GD Fan Union and helped organize 45 (!) busses to travel to the discharge place at Army Ground Operations Command Yongin.

G-Dragon Discharge 8am on October 26th, 2019:

Soojmooj Instagram story:

From G-Dragon's sisters wedding (posted today)

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전역을 축하해요❤️ @xxxibgdrgn #one_of_a_kind_gd

A post shared by raremarket? (@in_suk) on Oct 25, 2019 at 6:12pm PDT

PMO MUSIC Weibo update:

Fans of K-pop band BIGBANG gather for G-Dragon's military discharge https://t.co/bTQLzVAprA pic.twitter.com/QmeZXCyT8h

— Reuters (@Reuters) October 26, 2019

YONGIN, South Korea (Reuters) – Fans of K-pop boyband BIGBANG gathered on Saturday to see band leader G-Dragon return to civilian life after his discharge from military service.

G-Dragon, 31, whose real name is Kwon Ji-yong, completed almost two years of mandatory military service and was discharged at the headquarters of South Korean Army’s Ground Operations Command in Yongin, southeast of Seoul.

He was originally scheduled to be discharged from a base near the border with North Korea, an area where officials are working to contain African swine fever, which affects pigs. The switch was apparently motivated by a desire to limit traffic in the area.

He had served about a year and eight months of mandatory military service applicable to all men in South Korea, which is still technically at war with North Korea.

About 500 Chinese, Japanese and other Asian fans, some of whom waited outside the military base overnight in chilly weather, cheered as G-Dragon emerged from the building around 8 a.m.

“Thank you for waiting,” said G-Dragon, who was wearing a dark brown military uniform and beret. “I will return to my job and faithful to my work.”

After brief remarks, he entered a black van and departed as fans took photos, waved and followed the van. He then held an event nearby with 3,000 fans.

Originally a five-member band, BIGBANG, after debuting in 2006, often topped the South Korean music charts and gained a huge following before members began to enter mandatory military service in 2017.

Bandmate Seungri left the band and retired from the music industry in March after he was accused of alleged sex bribery.

[Social Media] ? T.O.P Instagram Story 2019-10-26 14:22:56 (KST)

#TOPstagram #TOPstaStory #탑 #최승현

191026 T.O.P. Instagram Story update

Trans)

?: Thank you?

?: Congratulations for the military discharge!! Free G!!!!!!!! Congrats?

?: Thanks for taking responsibility for my time throughout the military life, hyung❤️ pic.twitter.com/Rhg92ofFFw

— TeamBIGBANG (@TeamBIGBANG) October 26, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

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웰컴백축하파티우리가족완전체

A post shared by @ damikwon_ on Oct 25, 2019 at 9:37pm PDT