Why was G-Dragon's Übermensch concert in Malaysia ‘frustrating'? All about ‘unfair' treatment of local fans and scalping issues
G-Dragon's KL concert faces scalping controversy
Even before the concerts began, ticket sales had drawn controversy. It's due to alleged scalping and difficulty for local fans to purchase tickets. Organiser Star Planet attempted to tackle the issue by re-releasing a limited number of tickets. However, the move only stirred fresh concerns when fans noticed unusual patterns at the venue.
Once the gates opened, attendees observed numerous empty seats, raising eyebrows given the event was officially sold out. Fans pointed to the possibility that scalpers, unable to resell tickets, had caused these gaps in the audience.
Further fuelling suspicion was the sight of many VIP lanyards left untouched at the registration counter. They were still unclaimed even after the show had started. Though those empty spots were eventually filled, many fans believe they were occupied by foreign buyers, not locals. It deepened frustration over how tickets were allocated.
G-Dragon's Malay moments fall flat
K-pop fans are known to celebrate idols who make the effort to speak in their local language. It's often a highlight of any K-pop show in foreign country. But during G-Dragon 's concert, his attempts to connect with the audience in Malay were met with a noticeably muted response.
Some fans speculated that the lack of energy could be because many in attendance didn't understand the language. This possibly points again to the heavy presence of non-local fans in the crowd. For a region known for its loud and passionate fanbase, the subdued atmosphere felt out of place.
G-Dragon's team comforts tearful fans outside Malaysia show
As is common during sold-out concerts, several fans chose to gather outside the venue to experience the event from afar. However, this time, the scene turned emotional. Viral TikTok videos showed fans chanting and booing, calling on staff to open the doors so they could catch even a glimpse of the show.
What made it even more emotional was the reported appearance of G-Dragon 's team. They approached the crowd to collect supportive messages for the artist. Many fans, some in tears, shared heartfelt notes. They expressed both their love for G-Dragon and their sadness at not being able to see him perform live. The clips touched fans across the internet, with many calling out the organisers for not doing more to accommodate local supporters.
No response yet from G-Dragon concerts' organisers
As of now, Star Planet Malaysia has not released an official statement regarding the allegations and backlash. While G-Dragon's performance was praised for its creativity and stage presence, the overall concert experience left a sour taste for many. Fans now hope that should G-Dragon, or BIGBANG as a full group, return to Malaysia, the event will be better organised.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Lee Min Ho on BLACKPINK's Jisoo and the fear that made him ‘fiercely resist' Omniscient Reader multiple times
Lee Min Ho is making his movie comeback after 10 long years with Omniscient Reader: The Prophet. In the film, adapted from the globally popular webtoon, he plays, Yoo Joong Hyuk, the protagonist inside the novel being read by Ahn Hyo Seop's Dokja, an average office guy who suddenly finds the world morphing into the plot of a book. When Lee first got the offer, he didn't jump at it. In fact, he admits he tried to turn it down multiple times. At a recent press interaction in Samcheong-dong, the Pachinko star opened up about the pressure of signing onto the role, and also addressed his character's link to BLACKPINK's Kim Jisoo. For Lee, who's delivered multiple hits in his long career and starred in some of the most talked-about K-dramas, the pressure was real. 'To be honest, I felt pressured taking on the project because I didn't want to hear people say, 'this role is so Lee Min-ho,' like it's just more of the same,' he told reporters in Seoul. 'I felt the pressure.' Despite having taken on unconventional roles before, the actor admitted, 'Playing Joong-hyuk came with its own weight.' Also read: Lee Min Ho admits he 'could fall any moment,' says problems arise from personal desires, pins all hope on Omniscient Reader He said he tried to walk away from the offer 'fiercely' multiple times, but the team kept circling back. What finally got him to say yes wasn't the visuals, the cool factor, or even the top billing. It was the character. 'Joong Hyuk felt like a character who reflects certain values I want to live by. And I thought, if a major Korean IP like this can connect with more people, and if I can be part of that, then maybe it's worth it,' he said. The novel barely features his character early on, but his presence has the most impact, and that's where the risk lies. There's always pressure with adaptations, and with fans already upset about how little screen time he gets compared to his usual roles, Lee made it clear, every scene he shot is in. That's all there was. 'I agreed that including too much backstory beyond what's already there could water down the film's direction,' he said. 'So I didn't really push for more screen time or talk much about how big or small my role would be.' Also read: Ahn Hyo Seop reveals how 'senior' Lee Min Ho treated him on Omniscient Reader set: 'I've admired him for years, he made me feel…' When the casting for Omniscient Reader was announced, one of the most thrilling bits for fans was seeing Lee with Jisoo, it felt like a dream pairing come true. But for Lee, he had no clue about the connection until they were actually mid-shoot. Jisoo plays Ji Hye, supposedly Joong Hyuk's love interest, or maybe a protégé. Reflecting on that on-screen relationship, he said, 'I had no idea how we were connected,' and laughed. 'I was flying blind.' Lee's known for leading-man roles, from Boys Over Flowers to The Heirs and more. In Omniscient Reader, he's a myth. The shadow. The backbone. No charming dialogue. No romance. Not even a full backstory. 'How does this one guy carry the weight of an entire world's mythology without even explaining who he is?' he said. But that's the challenge he signed up for. With a ₩30 billion budget (that's nearly $22 million USD), Omniscient Reader hits theatres July 23.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Eric Nam and Yoo Ji Young to star in new K-pop film; first American movie to be shot in South Korea - Deets inside!
Singer and actor , along with Ji Young from 'Kpop Demon Hunters', have officially been cast in the first of its kind, K-Pop movie ! has been confirmed to take on the role of director for the upcoming project. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While no title for the film has been shared publicly, it is slated for a February 2027 release! K-pop film in the works As per reports from Deadline, this K-pop film is going to follow the life of a Korean-American woman, who, against her family's wishes, ends up joining a show to become the next big K-pop idol! The film's director revealed more information about the upcoming American film in depth. Labelling the film as his 'love letter' to K-pop, the director revealed 'its energy, passion, magic, and the incredible community behind it. I'm deeply grateful to Paramount Pictures for championing the project, to our producers for their unwavering dedication, to our talented and dynamic cast, and the legends of the genre, helping us bring this story to life. This one's for the dreamers'. Eileen Shim will be taking on writing the script for the role and has expressed her gratitude and excitement over the movie. This project is also going to be one of the first American films to be completely shot in South Korea, making this a major milestone in the entertainment industry. About the cast of the film Not much information about the film has been shared with the public; however, the main cast members have already been confirmed! Eric Nam, who is well known for his soulful vocals as well as for his acting prowess, is going to be taking on one of the lead roles in the film. Nam recently debuted on the big screen with ' Transplant ', where he starred alongside ! He will also be featured on the upcoming 'The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender' as the voice artist for Aang too! Yoo Ji Young , on the other hand, will be playing one of the female leads of the show! She has most recently gone viral for her voiceover acting in the hit OTT film 'Kpop Demon Hunters' as Zoey. She is known for various other projects such as ' Expats ', 'Smoking Tigers', The Yinyang Master', and 'The Sky Is Everywhere'.
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
BTS military information used in insider trading; multiple HYBE staffers sentenced to prison
On July 22, just hours after the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Cyber Investigation Unit confirmed the indictment of a few airline staffers for leaking BTS members' flight details, three individuals linked to HYBE were busted for insider trading. Months before the official military enlistment announcement, whispers about the band taking a hiatus had already triggered a panic. HYBE's stock took a hit as investors feared the K-pop sensation wouldn't return as OT7, sparking outrage across social media. Now it turns out some insiders with access to confidential information sold their HYBE shares before the company went public with the news. Also read: BTS' RM and Jungkook admit Kim Taehyung has changed: 'We can't keep up anymore, he's stronger' On June 14, 2022, BTS posted a video announcing their hiatus because of military service, starting with Jin. The very next day, HYBE's stock price crashed nearly 25%. Turns out, a few employees had already sold their shares before the crash, knowing what was coming and further fueling disbandment rumours. According to Korea JoongAng Daily, the Seoul Southern District Court on Tuesday sentenced a 37-year-old HYBE employee (surname Kim), who worked at subsidiary SOURCE Music, to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, with a ₩231 million ($167K) fine. Another was a former BigHit Music staffer (33, surname Lee), handed six months suspended and fined ₩51 million ($37K). A third, from Belift Lab (41, also Kim), got the same sentence and a ₩65 million (~$47K) fine. The defendants saved around ₩230 million in losses. The court further ordered them to pay back the exact amount they earned via this illegal act. 'In an entertainment company, an artist's activities have a significant impact on revenue, so whether they continue or suspend activities is a highly sensitive matter,' the court ruling said. 'This offence constitutes a serious crime that undermines the fairness of the capital market and warrants strong social condemnation.' Also read: Ahn Hyo Seop reveals how 'senior' Lee Min Ho treated him on Omniscient Reader set: 'I've admired him for years, he made me feel…' In a totally separate case but involving the same breach of privacy, a foreign airline worker (called Mr. A) was caught selling BTS's private flight information. This information not only involved just the K-pop stars' info but also another top Korean celebrities. According to the reports, Mr. A used his access as an airline employee to extract confidential flight details, including boarding time, destination, and others. He then sold those to brokers for cash, tens of millions of won. Further, these brokers spread it on encrypted apps, group chats, DMs, and sold it to sasaengs (obsessive fans) who are often caught stalking and forcefully trying to enter celebs' personal space. The three suspects were sent to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on charges of violating the Information and Communications Network Act and other related offences, according to Allkpop. The matter turned dangerous as some fans began buying seats on the same flights as idols. Others, with a history of tampering, messed with seat bookings, meal orders without consent, or even cancelled entire flights by tweaking reservations or seat preferences. Not only did this meddle with idol schedules, but it also put everyone's safety at risk. Once the situation spiralled with repeated offences, HYBE, BTS's label, formed a task force to trace the leaks. Their staff dug into chat logs, money trails, and account details and handed everything to the police. That helped speed up the investigation, leading to Mr. A's arrest in February 2025, followed by two more in March. All three are now being prosecuted.
