Transcription
We watched a bit of your POWER music video earlier. You opened the door and then closed it again in the final scene. I don’t know if it was intentional, but it reminded me of The Truman Show, the scene where Jim Carrey walks out at the end. That moment was pretty shocking in the movie.
Yes, it’s one of the films I’d count among my all-time favorites. There’s a line Truman says near the end: “In case I don’t see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night.” As a showman, he’s basically saying goodbye as if he may never see the audience again. Pouring everything out that day with a final bow and then steps through the door, ending the film.
Actually, that was also how my last solo tour ended, right before I enlisted. I wasn’t even sure if I’d be able to come back. It was right before my military service, and at that time, the last tour felt like my farewell to everyone: my fans, the people I’d worked with, and even to myself. That same line really captured how I felt. I ended the concert with that final scene, and for my new album’s opening track, I decided to pay homage once again to The Truman Show, as well as to that very ending scene from my last solo concert.
It reminds me of that line from Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite: “You had a plan all along.” Would you say you relate personally to The Truman Show in terms of your own life?
Very much so. At certain times, when I was extremely sensitive, I actually felt like I was living in a Truman Show. There were moments when things that didn’t make sense kept happening, over and over again, almost as if everything were scripted. And as you know, this industry is one where cameras are always around. We call it privacy when there are no cameras around us. But in reality, if we don’t intentionally speak about it, reveal it, or show it somewhere, it should remain unknown, or at least unknowable. Yet somehow, through some route I don’t even understand, there are more and more moments when things about me get exposed to the outside world. Then I start to wonder if I have any secrets left, or if even my own home or my phone is truly safe. At times like that, I can become extremely anxious and trapped in those thoughts.
Yes, it happens to many people — things about them get revealed without their awareness.
Right, and if at least I had the choice, the right to decide what to reveal or not, that would be something. But when even that control is taken away, and I end up finding out what I did yesterday through the news or media… It’s strange. It feels like I’m watching myself from the outside.
So that kind of thing happened to you quite a few times, then?
Yes, more than once. And POWER wasn’t the first time you touched on this. In 2009, you had Gossip Man, which also dealt with the media. Back then, your lyrics were quite direct: “As of today, reporters’ pens are on fire, and countless netizens’ fingers are strained.” “Our country is like a boiling pot” “it cools down in the blink of an eye.” You pronounced it as “thang” to make it sound cooler?
Exactly, kind of a vibe thing, that “swag” energy.
I see—so when you say “ddeng” instead of “thing,” it gives that kind of vibe, right?
A bit of a flex feeling.
That makes sense. Anyway, “thing” or “ddeng” aside, why were you so frustrated with the media back then?
To be honest, I did. That was probably around my 2009 album. As the title suggests, it was about gossip. Depending on its influence, gossip can easily turn into rumors. At that age, and with the amount of attention I was getting, it was overwhelming. Annoying, even. So my lyrics came out sharper, more direct, almost like a young kid venting frustration.
That’s how it reads. Then let me ask this: what do you think is wrong with journalism in Korea?
Since it’s not really my field, I can’t say for sure…
But you’ve clearly thought about it, given how much you’ve written about the issue. Then maybe I’ll need more time to think about that. Let me answer it the next time we meet.
Next time? Who knows if there’ll be a next time? It took us ten years this time; maybe we can make it five the next. So if I start thinking about it now, it could be fun to revisit later.
If you ever need research materials or books, just let me know anytime. Though I worry that journalism might be in an even worse state by then.
I’ll make sure to study it while keeping an eye on the times. Fair enough. So, is POWER your favorite song from the album?
Not necessarily.
Then which one is? From this album… Are you going to stay lying down the whole time? From this album… Guess there isn’t one? Well, I’ve never had children, but if I think of my songs as my kids, they’re all touched by my hands, so I can’t really say I like one more than another. Each one holds memories and moments that make it special to me. But in terms of personal meaning, Home Sweet Home stands out.
Why that one?
It was the first song I started for this album, the beginning of everything. The album grew from that song, and it was also the last one I finished. It took the longest, and I poured the most heart into it.
Then let’s make Home Sweet Home the ending song for today’s show. And while we’re at it, when are you getting married?
Marriage… I’ll go when it’s time. It’s an entirely unknown world to me. But one I’d like to experience someday.
Your face just lit up more than ever.
To me, it’s still the most mysterious, uncharted territory. Among our members, Taeyang has already married and become a father. So when I visit his baby and say, “I’m your dad’s friend,” yeah, it’s surreal seeing myself say that. I guess one day it’ll be my turn. It’s both exciting and a bit scary.
But you don’t even have anyone in mind yet, do you?
That’s exactly right. You don’t even know who that might be.
No idea. But I’m ready to go when it’s time. Maybe once I’m ready, someone will appear.
Let’s get back to the music, then. Do you want to keep discussing the marriage?
Not at all. Marriage? I’d like to, someday. When it’s time.
When it’s time. You’ll go when it’s time.
I suppose so. But I can’t make any promises. You seem really curious about it. I can’t make any promises. It’s not like the military—there’s no set date. In the army, at least someone calls you in. And accepted me. Marriage doesn’t work that way.
Someone might still call, you never know.
True, that could happen. Surely, no one yet?
Not yet. And I haven’t exactly gone looking either.
Well, somehow we’ve ended up closing on the topic of marriage. Marriage, age 40… Yes, next comes “understanding destiny.” Those are the three key words for the future, exactly. This isn’t just a polite closing remark; I genuinely mean it. I’m curious to see what G-Dragon will be like ten years from now. And I’ll repeat the same wish I gave you a decade ago: I hope you never lose the sensitivity you have now. I might not be around to interview you ten years from now, so I’ll leave that to others.
Then I hope we can meet again in five years. I’ll bring my answer to your question then.
You’re cutting it down from ten years to five? You mean it?
The question about journalism.
Yes. “What is the problem with journalism?”
So I can just give you my personal view on it?
Of course, that’s exactly what I want. It might end up being a bit long, though…
I’ll gladly sit through it. By then, you’ll already be someone who received the Ok-Gwan Order of Cultural Merit five years earlier.