Did G-Dragon rip off another composer for his hit 2010 song? K-pop star's former agency YG breaks silence amid police raid

South Korean music star G-Dragon, a member of the globally renowned boy band BigBang, has once again found himself at the center of public scrutiny—this time over allegations of music plagiarism. As reported by The Korea Times, both G-Dragon and Yang Hyun-suk, the executive producer and founder of YG Entertainment, are under official investigation for allegedly copying a composition without authorization.

Police Launch Formal Investigation

According to authorities at the Seoul Mapo Police Station, the inquiry began in November 2024 when a composer—publicly identified only as 'Mr. A'—filed a legal complaint. The composer claims that his original track, titled G-Dragon, was used without his consent, altered, and released under a different title. Police have since conducted two separate raids on YG Entertainment’s headquarters in Seoul and questioned several individuals connected to the case.

The disputed track allegedly dates back more than 15 years. Mr. A asserts that YG Entertainment modified his song, merged it with other music, and released it under the name My Age is 13 on G-Dragon’s 2010 live album Shine a Light. The song was reportedly combined with elements from three other tracks—Storm, Hip Hop Gentlemen, and G-Dragon—creating a 4-minute, 15-second medley listed as the album’s fifth track.

Senior Executives Included in Complaint

Police confirmed that the complaint does not only name G-Dragon and Yang Hyun-suk but also includes YG Entertainment’s current CEO, Yang Min-suk—Yang Hyun-suk’s younger brother—and Choi Sung-jun, head of YG Plus, a YG subsidiary. Authorities have declined to reveal further details about evidence or testimonies, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

Agency Denies Allegations

In response, YG Entertainment—home to top K-pop acts such as BLACKPINK and BABYMONSTER—has firmly rejected the accusations. A company representative stated that the issue stems from a misunderstanding, claiming the confusion arose due to two unrelated songs sharing the same title during preparations for G-Dragon’s 2009 solo concert. They emphasized that there was no unauthorized use of Mr. A’s work.

A Career Shadowed by Past Scandal

This latest dispute emerges not long after G-Dragon made significant efforts to rebuild his public image following a high-profile drug investigation that threatened his career. In 2023, the singer was questioned as part of a wider police crackdown on illegal substances, which also involved late Parasite actor Lee Sun-kyun. Police later confirmed the two cases were unrelated.

Throughout the drug probe, G-Dragon repeatedly denied wrongdoing and voluntarily provided urine, hair, and nail samples for testing—all of which returned negative results. On December 19, 2023, the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency closed the case without filing charges.

Reinvention and Return to Music

After parting ways with YG Entertainment, G-Dragon signed with Galaxy Corporation and publicly pledged to combat drug abuse, even announcing the creation of a dedicated foundation. He has since released a new album and embarked on a world tour, marking a renewed chapter in his career despite the fresh plagiarism controversy.

If you’d like, I can also prepare a timeline chart of events from the plagiarism complaint to the current investigation for better clarity. That would help visually map the case’s progression.