Chaos at G-Dragon’s ‘Übermensch’ Concert in Hong Kong: Fandom Tensions and the Seungri Controversy
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A shining sign disrupts the night, Fandom’s past casts a shadowed light, Respect is lost amid the fight.
G-Dragon (Kwon Ji-yong), the legendary member of boy group Big Bang, recently held his Übermensch world tour concert at the AsiaWorld Arena in Hong Kong from August 8 to 10, 2025. This was a special moment, marking his first concert in Hong Kong in eight years. Local fans showed overwhelming enthusiasm as tickets sold out within minutes. VIP tickets on the final day even reached prices of around 21 million won (approximately $18,000 USD) due to rampant ticket scalping on the secondary market.
However, the excitement was overshadowed by an incident that stirred unrest within the fandom and sparked controversy among attendees.
During G-Dragon’s performance of his iconic solo track “Butterfly” (released in 2009), a fan known as “Mr. A” suddenly raised an LED sign reading “Bring Seungri.” The use of such LED signs is explicitly prohibited at Hong Kong concert venues as they can disrupt the performance and violate rules set by the event organizer, Asia Expo Management.
Upon seeing the sign, G-Dragon’s expression shifted from a satisfied smile to one of confusion and discomfort before he quickly averted his gaze. Meanwhile, another LED sign appeared elsewhere in the crowd displaying “GD♥SR,” a combination of G-Dragon and Seungri’s initials. The mention of Seungri immediately sparked controversy, given that the former Big Bang member was expelled from the entertainment industry in 2019 following the infamous Burning Sun scandal involving prostitution, embezzlement, illegal gambling, and financial crimes. He was sentenced to one and a half years in prison and released in February 2023. Although free, his name remains a sensitive topic, stirring tension within the Big Bang fandom, especially when brought up during G-Dragon’s solo concert.
Local Hong Kong fans quickly reacted on social media, condemning the use of the banned LED signs as disrespectful behavior that disrupted the respectful and ethical atmosphere expected at concerts. Comments such as:
“This is so embarrassing.”
“LED signs are strictly banned at this venue.”
“Why bring Seungri’s name to G-Dragon’s event?”
flooded various online communities. Some netizens even dug into “Mr. A”’s personal information, yet he remained confident and proudly admitted to holding the sign despite his identity being exposed.
Shortly after the incident, the fan responsible issued a public apology on the Weibo forum, acknowledging their mistake and expressing a desire to make amends.
Netizen backlash on X (Twitter) intensified, with many strongly condemning the disrespectful behavior and lamenting the poor conduct:
“作为中国人我同样觉得很丢脸，我们所有中国的正常粉丝都感到气愤，我们正常的粉丝不会这样做的，他只是李胜利的粉丝🥲🥲🥲🥲” (“As a Chinese person, I also feel ashamed. All normal Chinese fans are angry. We wouldn’t do this; he is just a fan of Seungri.”)
“That’s so disrespectful 😡 get away from our Jiyong.”
“What the fuck is wrong with people like this? It’s genuinely DISGUSTING and so disrespectful towards GD because this is his SOLO concert.”
“Shameless biaaatthhcchhh!! You should be ashamed of yourself!! You all know what GD has been through, the only way to show GD our love is by respecting him!!”
“They can support him in other ways. Not like this. Not at GD’s concert. That’s disrespectful.”
“Only a small number of people with abnormal minds support him. Most people hate him and his fans! Because his fans are idiots and have delusions 😡😡”
A TikTok video recorded by a fan attending the concert clearly shows G-Dragon’s reaction when he saw the LED sign: a disappointed look followed by quickly avoiding eye contact. Many netizens praised G-Dragon’s firm response and condemned the rule-breaking behavior. Comments from TikTok users included:
“HE’S SUCH A DIVA”
“SUCH A KING”
“THAT’S WHY HE’S THE KING”
“Yeah, he HATES that man.”
“THAT’S SO DISRESPECTFUL.”
“Why would they bring that?”
“Why tf would they do that?”
This LED sign incident highlights the fragile balance within fandom loyalty clashing with unresolved controversies like Seungri’s case. Despite the turmoil, G-Dragon’s Übermensch concert received praise for his energetic performance and charisma. Still, the episode serves as an important reminder for fans to maintain respect, follow rules, and foster a positive environment to honor the hard work of their beloved artist.
Sources: Daum, X (formerly twitter), TikTok
