G-Dragon returns with digital single 'Power' after seven-year hiatus

G-Dragon will release a digital single, “Power,” on Thursday, marking his first new music in seven years.

G-Dragon [GALAXY CORPORATION]

G-Dragon will release a digital single, “Power,” on Thursday, marking his first new music in seven years.

In 2017, he released the EP “Kwon Ji Yong,” which was notable for being the first from a Korean artist to reach No. 1 on both the Billboard World Albums Chart and Japan’s Oricon Digital Chart.

On Wednesday, G-Dragon shared a promotional clip featuring the new hip-hop track as background music and unveiled the full song during an Instagram livestream.

Stills from a promotional clip for ″Power″ [GALAXY CORPORATION]

“I came back because I wanted to make music again as G-Dragon, not Kwon Ji-yong,” his real name. “My goal is to have a successful comeback,” G-Dragon said during Wednesday's episode of tvN’s “You Quiz on the Block.”

“‘Power’ is a song about strength. For me, strength is ‘music.’ During my seven-year hiatus, I realized the incredible influence of media as a third-party observer. This song satirizes the power of media and conveys a desire to blend various forms of strength harmoniously.”

G-Dragon debuted as a member of boy band Big Bang, one of Korea’s most prolific acts, in 2008. A year later, he launched his solo career with his first full-length album, "Heartbreaker."

He signed with Galaxy Corporation in December last year after leaving YG Entertainment in June.

BY YOON SEUNG-JIN [yoon.seungjin@joongang.co.kr]