BIGBANG’s G-Dragon plagiarism claims and police raid over 15-year-old track explained; YG responds

G-Dragon plagiarism controversy explained

The controversy blew up in November 2024 when a music composer, identified as Mr. A, filed a complaint with Seoul’s Mapo Police Station. He claimed that a song he wrote, titled “G-Dragon,” was taken without his permission and then was renamed “My Age is 13.” The track was then released as part of G-Dragon’s 2010 live album Shine a Light. According to Mr. A, YG Entertainment didn’t just snatch his music but made it sound more original by mixing it with other songs and releasing it as “My Age Is 13 + Storm + Hip Hop Gentlemen + G-Dragon.” The track now runs 4 minutes 15 seconds and is listed as the fifth track on the album.

According to the authorities, they have carried out two raids, one at YG Entertainment’s headquarters in Seoul, and have since questioned multiple staff in the investigation. While they declined to provide more information on the case, they confirmed the current CEO, Yang Min Suk (Yang Hyun Suk’s younger brother), and Choi Sung Jun, head of YG Plus (a YG subsidiary), were included in the complaint.

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Meanwhile, responding to the allegations, YG Entertainment, the agency that backs K-pop groups like BLACKPINK and BABYMONSTER, has denied all allegations. Company’s spokesperson dismissed the accusations as a misunderstanding, claiming there were simply two different songs with the same title during preparations for G-Dragon’s 2009 solo concert. A police official was quoted as saying, “The investigation is currently ongoing and we cannot confirm specific details.”

The recent controversy comes after G-Dragon’s effort to rebrand himself following his alleged drug scandal that nearly derailed his career. The K-pop idol left YG and has since joined hands with Galaxy Corp. His name emerged after a police crackdown on illegal drugs that also involved late Parasite actor Lee Sun Kyun. Police, however, said that the two cases are different. G-Dragon consistently denies all accusations and submitted samples of his urine, hair, and nails for drug testing, all came back negative. On December 19, 2023, the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency concluded the investigation, and G-Dragon was not charged. After clearing his name, G-Dragon held a press conference through his new agency, Galaxy Corporation, to establish a foundation to combat drug addiction and has since released a new album and is currently on a music world tour.