G-Dragon will release next album under his famed stage name

Singer G-Dragon will release his upcoming album under his stage name, thanks to YG Entertainment transferring the trademark to his new label.

Singer G-Dragon [KAIST]

Singer G-Dragon will be able to release his upcoming album under his famed stage name thanks to YG Entertainment.

Yang Hyun-suk, the founder of G-Dragon's former agency, handed the trademark over to the singer's new label, Galaxy Corporation, and asked nothing in return.

“We own the trademarks to the names of ‘G-Dragon,’ ‘GD,’ and more,” Galaxy Corporation said Thursday.

G-Dragon, whose real name is Kwon Ji-yong, was signed to YG Entertainment for the 17 years since 2001. He debuted as a member of boy band Big Bang, one of Korea’s most prolific acts, in 2008.

The singer left YG Entertainment and signed with Galaxy Corporation last December.

G-Dragon’s most recent music release as a solo artist was his second EP, “Kwon Ji Yong,” in June 2017. Galaxy Corporation has been teasing the singer’s return since April, but no specific date has been confirmed as of Friday.

G-Dragon was appointed a visiting professor of mechanical engineering at KAIST on June 5. The singer currently delivers lectures on leadership skills to undergraduate and graduate students and contributes to the university's cultural events.

To find out more about G-Dragon, visit Celeb Confirmed!

BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]