G-Dragon’s Macau Performance Sparks Clothing Controversy…Galaxy Corporation Issues Apology Statement

G-Dragon wore clothing featuring racially offensive slogans during a performance in Macau. His agency, Galaxy Corporation, released an apology statement acknowledging a lack of cultural sensitivity.

On May 2, at the K-SPARK event held in Macau, the shirt worn by G-Dragon contained the problematic wording written in Dutch. The text on the shirt included sexually suggestive terms as well as insults directed at Black people. Once footage of the performance was released, it immediately drew widespread criticism from global fans. Critics pointed out that artists who hold the status of global fashion icons require even stricter scrutiny of their styling.

On May 3, Galaxy Corporation issued an apology statement through G-Dragon’s official website. The agency stated, “We sincerely apologize for the inappropriate wording on the clothing,” and added, “This incident serves as another reminder of the importance of cultural sensitivity and responsible verification.”

Galaxy Corporation promised to “thoroughly review all internal processes related to styling and strengthen verification procedures” going forward, stating it would “adopt higher standards of global respect and accountability.” The agency also clarified that it would “approach all artist-related activities with greater care and responsibility” and “always respect the diverse cultural backgrounds and values of global fans.”

This incident has brought to light a long-standing issue within the K-pop industry. For years, there have been complaints about a practice where visual aesthetics are pursued without sufficient verification of the meanings behind Western-style graphics. This event is seen as an example of the gap between management teams’ local expertise and cultural sensitivity when dealing with K-pop artists who have global fanbases.