01/11/2025

LYFE SATURDAY | NOV 1, 2025 25 Apec spotlights K-pop’s impact A S Gyeongju puts the final touches to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) yesterday, the host country is brilliantly using its K-pop culture to promote its uniqueness and appeal. This effort is highlighted through G-Dragon, the popular BigBang group leader, and the phenomenal global success of KPop Demon Hunters . G-Dragon or Kwon Ji-Yong, also known as the “King of K-pop”, is famously known for his insane talents as a singer, songwriter, music producer and fashion icon – and has garnered fans around the world. Funnily enough, it even sparked rumours that the biggest K-pop star and rapper would give a free concert in conjunction with the summit. However, G-Dragon, who is also the Apec honorary ambassador, was one of the guests at the summit dinner. G-Dragon has played his part through the Apec promotional video, which also features South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in a cameo role, that has been shown on various broadcast and online channels. Apart from that, pastries, snacks and ice-cream with packaging featuring Rumi, Zoey, Mira, Saja Boys and Derpy the Tiger – characters from the animated movie KPop Demon Hunters – were among the items served at the International Media Centre in the Gyeongju Hwabaek International Convention Centre and at booths around the the area where the summit was held. Interestingly, Gyeongju, which is in a coastal area, is also a favourite shooting location for drama and films, especially historical drama series such as The Great Queen Seondeok and Mr Sunshine , as well as modern television series such as Princess Hours and Beauty Inside , which showcase the area’s beauty as well as historic and cinematic landscape. Gyeongju, the fifth-largest city in South Korea, is nicknamed the“Museum Without Walls” and is home to numerous historical sites, some of which have been designated as Unesco World Heritage Sites for their significance rooted in the city’s past as the capital of the Silla Kingdom, which ruled a unified Korean peninsula for nearly a thousand years. Physiotherapist Park Hyun, 26, said the selection of Gyeongju as the venue for this year’s Apec is a good opportunity to promote the city. “I have come here a few times for leisure, and this is the first time I’ve come here for work. There has been a lot of development. “I am glad Gyeongju has been chosen this time as a lot of foreign tourists are only aware of Jeju but not Gyeongju,”said Park Hyun, who hails from Seoul. This year marks 20 years since the republic last hosted the AELM in Busan in 2005. – Bernama

G-Dragon brings his concert to silver screen

o Artiste mesmerises with long-awaited return

Ű BY AMEEN HAZIZI

G -DRAGON’S G-Dragon In Cinema: Ubermensch is a vivid mix of performance and introspection that captures his long-awaited return to the stage. More than a concert film, it serves as a reflection of who he is now as a performer, and as a person rebuilding his creative identity after a decade away. From the opening scene, G-Dragon takes command of the screen with striking precision and confidence. The performances are grand and visually layered, blending choreography, lighting and cinematic framing that highlight his control over every moment. Between songs, he pauses to share personal reflections about his journey and the philosophy behind the tour’s title. He

Every beat, every breath, every moment that will redefine his legacy bursts onto the big screen. – PICS FROM G-DRAGON WEBSITE

the concert into something unforgettable. The 4DX presentation enhances the experience beyond what a standard concert film could deliver. The expanded visuals revealed the entire stage, from the live band and backup dancers to the immersive light projections that ripple through each song. Every sound, flash and vibration pulls the viewer closer into the performance. Every moment of G-Dragon In Cinema: Ubermensch feels purposeful and finely executed. It stands as a visual experience and a creative reflection, showcasing his resilience, reinvention and the way music continues to bridge the space between artiste and audience.

explained Ubermensch means a person who does not give up, even when they stumble – a belief that threads through the entire show. Musically, Ubermensch moves effortlessly across styles. G-Dragon weaves hip hop, pop and funk with moments of eerie, horror-inspired visuals that expand his creative range. Each transition feels purposeful, creating a rhythm that mirrors the chaos and calm of his evolution as an artiste. Fans are treated to a full showcase of his career, with the crowd singing and dancing along to every track. The biggest surprise came when the remaining members of BigBang join him on stage for a heartfelt reunion, adding a surge of emotion that turns

After eight years, the icon of a generation roars back with an epic world tour: Ubermensch.

Court rules against girl group NewJeans in label dispute A South Korean court ruled on Thursday against popular K-pop group NewJeans, whose members had sought to cut contractual ties with its label Ador over what the group called “mistreatment” by the agency.

The five-member girl group made headlines in November by announcing the decision to leave Ador, whose parent company Hybe is also behind K-pop sensation BTS. The label then filed for an injunction, requesting the court to prohibit the group’s members from engaging in independent commercial activities and allowing it to remain NewJeans’s managing agency. The Seoul Central District Court in Thursday’s decision, its second in favour of Ador, rejected NewJeans’s claims that mistreatment had led to the “irreparable breakdown of trust”. “The court accepted all positions of the agency, keeping its contract with the group valid,” a court representative said. The court had already accepted Ador’s initial injunction request in March to prohibit the group from seeking outside opportunities without the label’s consents while legal proceedings took place. “The level of trust between Ador and NewJeans cannot be considered so damaged as to justify terminating the exclusive contract,” the court said in Thursday’s verdict, according to Yonhap news agency. NewJeans is among Hybe’s most successful acts since the band made its debut in 2022. The heated contractual dispute flared up

Following the court’s ruling, Ador has announced that NewJeans is prepared for the release of a new album. – AFPPIC

while working with Ador. The court said there was “no provision in the contract requiring Min, the former CEO, to necessarily head Ador”. Ador welcomed the decision and urged the group members to resume their work with the label. “We sincerely hope today’s judgement... will serve as an opportunity for the artistes to calmly reflect on this matter,” it said, adding it had already prepared for the release of a new NewJeans album. – AFP

last year after allegations that Hybe forced out the band’s star producer Min Hee-jin from her role as CEO of Ador. Its members then issued an ultimatum demanding Min’s reinstatement, which Hybe declined. In response, the members took their grievances public, accusing the label of intentionally sabotaging their careers. Band member Hanni alleged last year that the group experienced workplace harassment, such as “deliberate miscommunications and manipulation”

G-Dragon has been appointed as Apec’s honorary ambassador . – PIC FROM X @GDRAGON’SBUTTERFLYFANACCOUNT