G-Dragon’s agency, YG Entertainment, has come forward on behalf of the singer with an official apology regarding reports confirming the Big Bang leader was charged for smoking marijuana.
A press release issued on October 5 states, “First, we want express our sincere apologies to the Big Bang fans and members of the public who love Big Bang’s music for what has happened.”
“We plan to tell you exactly what happened,” continued the statement.
“G-Dragon was under prosecutor’s investigation for marijuana use in July,” states the press release. “Because G-Dragon believed he had never smoked marijuana, he openly engaged in the investigation and continued to go about his set schedule. However, upon hearing that the drug tests showed that a trace sample of his hair tested positively, G-Dragon, who thought he had never smoked marijuana, himself was shocked by the results.”
A press release issued on October 5 states, “First, we want express our sincere apologies to the Big Bang fans and members of the public who love Big Bang’s music for what has happened.”
“We plan to tell you exactly what happened,” continued the statement.
“G-Dragon was under prosecutor’s investigation for marijuana use in July,” states the press release. “Because G-Dragon believed he had never smoked marijuana, he openly engaged in the investigation and continued to go about his set schedule. However, upon hearing that the drug tests showed that a trace sample of his hair tested positively, G-Dragon, who thought he had never smoked marijuana, himself was shocked by the results.”
The statement continued, “While we were agonizing over the cause, G-Dragon said he remembered accepting a cigarette from a young, presumed Japanese fan, who recognized the singer and offered him a cigarette inside the bathroom at the location of a debriefing party held after a successful concert, but after taking two or three puffs, he was overcome by a strange feeling and immediately threw the cigarette into the toilet.
“We didn’t think much of what happened because it seemed so trivial and flashed by so quickly that [G-Dragon] barely remembered the incident, but upon agonizing over where the ‘trace amount’ of the drug may have come from and wondering whether that incident may have been the cause, we gave testimony on what happened exactly. The investigation found that G-Dragon had unintentionally smoked marijuana.”
“Although there were no additional penalties, we take the issue very seriously, and the sense of responsibility and guilt weighs more heavily on G-Dragon and the agency than any punishment,” continued the statement. “As a popular celebrity and as an agency that should thoroughly manage its artists, we are reflecting on ourselves and deeply sorry for not being more careful.”
In closing, the agency said, “Again, we offer our sincere apologies with our heads hung to those we made worry as a result of the incident and will devote our best efforts to prevent something like this from happening again.
“We didn’t think much of what happened because it seemed so trivial and flashed by so quickly that [G-Dragon] barely remembered the incident, but upon agonizing over where the ‘trace amount’ of the drug may have come from and wondering whether that incident may have been the cause, we gave testimony on what happened exactly. The investigation found that G-Dragon had unintentionally smoked marijuana.”
“Although there were no additional penalties, we take the issue very seriously, and the sense of responsibility and guilt weighs more heavily on G-Dragon and the agency than any punishment,” continued the statement. “As a popular celebrity and as an agency that should thoroughly manage its artists, we are reflecting on ourselves and deeply sorry for not being more careful.”
In closing, the agency said, “Again, we offer our sincere apologies with our heads hung to those we made worry as a result of the incident and will devote our best efforts to prevent something like this from happening again.
Earlier today, the Seoul District Prosecutor’s Office revealed that the singer had been charged for marijuana use. According to the prosecutor, G-Dragon smoked marijuana last May in Japan and tested positively for the drug in July. The prosecutor also said the singer admitted to smoking marijuana at an undisclosed club in Japan while on a concert tour.
Taking into consideration that this was G-Dragon’s first offense, that there was only a trace amount of the drug found, and the fact that he is a college student, his indictment was suspended.
In related news, fans have been rooting around (as they are wont to do) and have been speculating that fellow groupmate, Taeyang, may have known, and disapproved, of G-Dragon’s behavior.
Taking into consideration that this was G-Dragon’s first offense, that there was only a trace amount of the drug found, and the fact that he is a college student, his indictment was suspended.
In related news, fans have been rooting around (as they are wont to do) and have been speculating that fellow groupmate, Taeyang, may have known, and disapproved, of G-Dragon’s behavior.
On October 1, the singer tweeted, “It may seem like no one knows, but everyone knows. You may think you’re fooling us, but we’re choosing to look away.”
After seeing this, fellow YG Entertainment label mate and singer Se7en tweeted the singer with the message, “Youngbae, what is it? You need to see me...Let’s get together next week.”
Fans who saw the exchange between Taeyang and Se7en speculated about the reasons behind the singer’s tweet and expressed their concern, asking “Did something happen among the Big Bang members?”
With these reports, the group faces its biggest challenge yet. Member Daesung has already halted all activities since he was involved in a hit-and-run accident earlier this year, and it’s presumed that G-Dragon will also have to reevaluate whether he’ll be able to launch his solo promotions.
Additional reporting credit: Lee In Kyung
After seeing this, fellow YG Entertainment label mate and singer Se7en tweeted the singer with the message, “Youngbae, what is it? You need to see me...Let’s get together next week.”
Fans who saw the exchange between Taeyang and Se7en speculated about the reasons behind the singer’s tweet and expressed their concern, asking “Did something happen among the Big Bang members?”
With these reports, the group faces its biggest challenge yet. Member Daesung has already halted all activities since he was involved in a hit-and-run accident earlier this year, and it’s presumed that G-Dragon will also have to reevaluate whether he’ll be able to launch his solo promotions.
Additional reporting credit: Lee In Kyung
