G-Dragon To Stage Two-Night Return In KL, Tickets Fully Sold Out
Known for his avant-garde style and genre-defying performances, G-Dragon is expected to deliver an immersive experience blending music, fashion and striking visual storytelling. The two-night stint in Malaysia forms part of a global tour that celebrates his artistic evolution and connection with fans.
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New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Magical moments with G-Dragon
AS a long-time admirer of South Korean rapper G-Dragon, stepping into Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil for his 'Übermensch' concert recently felt like a dream. The moment the lights dimmed and the crowd roared, I knew I was about to witness something unforgettable, and G-Dragon did not disappoint. His two-night G-Dragon 2025 World Tour 'Übermensch' event in Kuala Lumpur, presented by Hong Leong Bank, was not merely a concert but a full-blown audio-visual experience. It served as a powerful reminder of why he remains an icon of global music and culture. Fans started arriving as early as 1pm, with some dressed in outfits inspired by G-Dragon's eclectic fashion sense. Many were already queuing excitedly to buy official tour merchandise, from collectible light sticks and T-shirts to exclusive fashion pieces that reflected the star's unique style. The anticipation in the air was electric, and once the show began with the explosive opening track 'Power', the entire arena was figuratively on fire. Backed by jaw-dropping visuals and a futuristic stage design, G-Dragon delivered a flawless performance. He seamlessly wove between iconic hits like 'Crayon', 'Heartbreaker', and 'Crooked', as well as newer tracks including 'Too Bad' and 'Drama'. What stood out most to me was not just the performance, but the storytelling. This wasn't simply a setlist; it was a journey of reinvention, liberation, and self-expression. Then came the moment that sent chills down our spines. In the middle of the show, G-Dragon looked out into the roaring crowd and made a heartfelt announcement. "You know what, guys, next year is Big Bang's 20th anniversary celebration. Big Bang is not just about me; it is the love of all of us. "And we will be back together. We hope to see you guys very soon," he said as the stadium erupted. Some fans were screaming, some were crying, but many of us just stood in awe, overwhelmed by the significance of that promise. Throughout the night, G-Dragon's outfits were a spectacle on their own, each look reflecting a different emotion or message. He even made the effort to speak Malay to connect with us, saying "Saya gembira jumpa korang" (I'm happy to see you all), "Syok gila" (Crazy fun), and "You all enjoy tak?" (Did you all enjoy it?). And yes, we did; every single moment. However, while the show was everything I had hoped for and more, I cannot ignore the voices of fellow Malaysian fans who were left disappointed, not by the artiste, but by aspects of the event experience itself. Ticket scalping was rampant, and many fans were unable to secure tickets. Some pointed out that signage and announcements were mostly in Chinese. Outside the arena, hundreds of ticketless fans gathered, hoping to catch even a glimpse or sound of their idol. I saw videos on social media showing G-Dragon's team collecting handwritten letters and fan gifts from the crowd — a small but meaningful gesture that touched many hearts. The concert organiser, Star Planet Malaysia, has since denied that Chinese-language signage dominated the event and dismissed the scalping accusations as baseless. "For this event, we implemented a pre-order phase exclusively for Hong Leong Bank cardholders, which was primarily targeted at Malaysian fans. "While tickets were not strictly divided between local and international sales, certain measures were in place — such as IP filtering to help ensure better access for Malaysian-based users and reduce the impact of overseas scalpers and automated bots," its chief operating officer Carmen Liew told the New Straits Times. Liew also addressed circulating fan-submitted photos, which appeared to show empty seating areas just one to two hours before the concert. "These assertions are factually incorrect and presented in a misleading context. As the venue doors opened three hours before showtime, many fans had yet to arrive at the time the photos were taken. "Furthermore, all seated zones were designated with numbered seating, allowing attendees to arrive closer to the show without concern for losing their seats," she said. Moving forward, Liew said that the company remains in active discussions with its ticketing partner to explore viable solutions, while also reviewing the existing ticketing terms and conditions to implement measures that are both effective and practical. Despite these minor hiccups, what I experienced inside the arena was magical. During the final moments of 'Untitled, 2014', the crowd softly sang in unison, as our light sticks painted the venue in a gentle glow. G-Dragon stood still on stage as the last note faded. For me, and thousands of others, this was not just a concert. It was a cultural moment, a reunion of memories, and a promise of something greater ahead.
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
Cha Eun-woo covers KPop Demon Hunters song Free with Arden Cho
Cha Eun-woo (left) and Arden Cho cover the song Free from Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters. Photo: Arden Cho/YouTube The wait is over for fans who have been looking forward to the collaboration between South Korean singer-actor Cha Eun-woo and American actress Arden Cho. On July 27, Netflix dropped a video of their duet for the song Free from the streaming platform's hit animated movie KPop Demon Hunters (2025). The film follows the members of Huntrix, a fictional K-pop girl group, who are fighting to save the world from soul-stealing demons and competing with fictional K-pop boy band Saja Boys from the demon world. 'This cover of Free by Huntrix has officially pierced my heart,' Netflix wrote on Instagram, and thanked the two stars. In the film, the romantic ballad is sung by the characters Rumi, leader and lead vocalist of Huntrix, and Jinu, leader of Saja Boys. Cho, best known for her roles in American supernatural teen series Teen Wolf (2011 to 2017) and legal drama Partner Track (2022), voices Rumi, with Korean-American singer Ejae providing the character's singing voice. Jinu is voiced by Canadian actor Ahn Hyo-seop, with South Korean singer Andrew Choi providing the character's singing voice. K-drama idol Cha was reportedly the inspiration behind Jinu. Cho, 39, also posted on Instagram and her YouTube channel on July 26 a video in which she chatted with Cha, 28 – a member of K-pop boy band Astro – about their duet. He is set to begin his mandatory military service on July 28. 'I'm here with one of my awesome 'dongsaeng' (Korean for younger sibling or friend),' she said. 'But people don't really know you're one of my 'dongsaeng' because we never posted a picture or anything.' Cha said they were introduced about five years ago via a South Korean producer who worked on some of his shows. He had starred in K-dramas such as My ID Is Gangnam Beauty (2018), Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung (2019) and True Beauty (2020 to 2021). 'When I was in America, she introduced (me to) a lot of delicious brunch cafes and restaurants,' Cha said of Cho. 'We love eating.' Cho remarked that Cha looks like Jinu, adding: 'And I thought it'd be really fun and special if we did a collaboration.' Cha also said Cho resembles Rumi, and that it was a sentiment shared by many of his celebrity friends in South Korea and his staff. 'We were texting about KPop Demon Hunters and when we were talking about the movie, I mentioned I was coming to Korea to do some press,' Cho said. 'We were, like, wouldn't it be fun if we covered it?' Cha said he loves all the songs from the movie, especially Free . Cho added that her fiance is a huge fan of Cha's. She announced her engagement on social media in April without revealing his name. 'He's been waiting for our cover. He said you're so cool and so good-looking. You really look like Jinu.' – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
All aboard chilling express
AMID a flood of over-saturation with scream-for-the-sake-of-it horror films, Ghost Train comes chugging into cinemas as a refreshing detour. Rather than shoving viewers into a nonstop haunted house of shrieking ghosts and flickering lights, this South Korean horror-thriller dares to take its time. Directed by Tak Se-woong and featuring a sharp lead performance from Joo Hyun-young, the film anchors itself in urban legend and internet clout-chasing two elements that surprisingly play very well together. Clocking in at 94 minutes, Ghost Train tells the story of Da-kyung, a struggling horror YouTuber who sets her sights on Gwanglim Station, a place infamous for disappearances and whispered legends. What follows is not just a ghost story, it is a meta-exploration of storytelling itself, where the search for viral fame runs headfirst into forces far beyond comprehension. This is not the kind of horror film that punishes viewers with jump scares every five minutes. And thank goodness for that. Dash of mystery, sprinkle of satire The biggest surprise of Ghost Train is how confidently it refuses to play by typical horror rules. Yes, there are creepy visuals and unsettling moments. But instead of going for the throat, the film lets its atmosphere do the heavy lifting. Director Tak understands dread does not always come from sudden noises, it simmers best when built through odd silences, peculiar behaviors and the slow unraveling of truth. There is a dry humoru that runs just beneath the surface, particularly in the way the film treats YouTube culture. Da-kyung's desperation for attention is both cringe-worthy and strangely relatable and Joo plays her with just the right balance of ambition and naivety. Her interactions with the station master (Jeon Bae-soo) often feel like oddball sketches that veer just short of parody. Choi Bo-min's Woo-jin and Kim Ji-in's Hye-jin round out the cast nicely, serving more as narrative mirrors than traditional sidekicks. The supporting cast, including a few well-placed background characters, bring in texture without stealing the spotlight. The good, the great, the ghostly bits Where Ghost Train shines is in its structure: part anthology, part myth-busting adventure, part YouTube-gone-wrong cautionary tale. The different stories woven into the mystery of Gwanglim Station are compelling, some even unsettling in a psychological rather than supernatural way. It is clear the film is more interested in unsettling its audience intellectually than scaring them silly. That said, the ride is not without a few screechy halts. Some of the ghost stories presented could have absolutely stood on their own as mini-features or short films. They are packed with intriguing ideas and world-building, but often get rushed through in favour of tying everything back to Da-kyung's main arc. Others, unfortunately, overstay their welcome. A few moments stretch longer than necessary, leading to sequences that feel more like filler than tension-building. Had the script given more breathing room to some of these mini-mysteries and maybe shaved off a few slower middle bits, the overall pacing could have matched the film's creative ambition. Still, what is here is commendable for its effort to be more than just spooky eye candy. A different kind of fear For international audiences, Ghost Train offers a neat entry point into Korean folklore-adjacent horror. The setting of a lonely, nearly abandoned subway station lends itself well to feelings of urban isolation, a theme often underexplored in some subgenres of horror. The film also makes clever use of the Korean language, with dialogue that plays subtly on regional intonations and cultural phrasing (subtitles do not always capture the layers, but they try their best). This is where the film makes a quiet but powerful case for why horror should not always be globalised. Watching Ghost Train in its native language enhances the uncanny atmosphere. It makes the local legends feel personal and adds a sense of cultural specificity that is often missing from Hollywood horror. Cliché-free ride Ghost Train is not a perfect ride. It meanders in places. Some parts try too hard to tie into a bigger narrative when they could have been stronger left alone. And viewers expecting a fright-a-minute experience might be disappointed by the film's more cerebral, subdued tone. But for those willing to step onto a slower, moodier track, there is plenty to appreciate. This is a horror film for viewers who enjoy stories that breathe, who appreciate when the fear creeps in sideways rather than jumping straight at the face. Come for the urban legend. Stay for the clever structure, the satirical edge and the satisfyingly strange journey. Just do not expect a final boss ghost fight. Ghost Train has no interest in clichés and that is what makes it special. A horror tale that blends folklore, mystery and a fresh take on fear. – IMDB
