On the APEC leaders' banquet stage where world leaders gathered, G-DRAGON once again etched "K-pop history." As a representative Korean artist and APEC 2025 ambassador, he delivered an overwhelming performance before Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Lee Jae-myung and other world leaders, proving his border-crossing presence through the power of culture.
#. A stage even world leaders were captivated by, "itself a source of pride for K culture"
At the "APEC leaders' summit welcome banquet" held at the Lahan Hotel in Gyeongju on the 29th, G-DRAGON took the stage as the only K-pop artist invited to perform. After a brief greeting, "APEC 2025 Korea ambassador, singer G-DRAGON," the stage that began was perfect. The intense beat, stage production and his characteristic charisma captured the attention of the world leaders at once.
A moment was captured of President Xi Jinping and President Lee Jae-myung smiling together as they watched the stage, and scenes of representatives from various countries filming his performance on their phones were broadcast. Internet users praised him, saying "It's proud to see the leaders filming G-DRAGON's stage," "truly 'K-culture diplomacy' itself," and "an artist who dominated the world on stage."
#. youngest recipient of the Order of Cultural Merit with the okgwan, "now history itself"
Before this stage, on the 23rd G-DRAGON was selected as the youngest-ever recipient of the Order of Cultural Merit with the okgwan at the 16th Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards, leaving another record in the history of Korean popular culture. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said he was honored for "his contribution to spreading Hallyu and globalizing Korean popular music."
In his acceptance remarks G-DRAGON smiled and said, "At 6 I was led by my mother's hand to an audition hall. Since that day I have had the same dream," and added, "In my teens I achieved the dream of being a singer, in my 20s I received commendations, in my 30s I received a medal. I look forward to my 40s." He also said, "Music has a power you can feel with the heart even when language doesn't work," and "I want to be an artist remembered across generations and eras."
Internet users cheered his path, saying, "The boy who dreamed became a national representative on the world stage," "not a medal but 'history' itself," and "GD is someone who always writes a new chapter."
#. "the stage is the message"… G-DRAGON's challenge to the world
Currently G-DRAGON is promoting Korean culture worldwide as an APEC 2025 ambassador and simultaneously expanding to North American and European stages through the "G-DRAGON 2025 WORLD TOUR [Übermensch]." Beginning in Seoul and moving to global cities including Tokyo, Osaka, Macao, Paris and Newark, he has recorded sellouts at every stop, proving his world-class caliber.
Global fans reacted in amazement, saying, "He rewrote K-pop's stature," "a stage unshaken even before President Xi Jinping, truly a legend," and "more valuable than the medal is his 'existence' itself." G-DRAGON, who overwhelmed the world on stage, is now remembered not just as a "K-pop star" but as a nation's culture itself.<
[Photo] OSEN DB, YouTube
[OSEN]