"A World Without Perfect Answers: It’s Okay to Make Mistakes" – G-Dragon’s Speech at KAIST

Singer G-Dragon (real name Kwon Ji-yong) delivered a video message to graduates during the “2026 Graduation Ceremony” held on February 20 at KAIST’s main campus in Daejeon, serving as an adjunct professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Through the video, he emphasized the importance of creativity and encouraged graduates to embrace courage without fearing failure as they step into society.

G-Dragon began his speech with warm words. He congratulated the graduates by saying, “I sincerely congratulate you. You have succeeded, and you will continue to succeed,” before offering practical advice for those entering real-world life. He stressed, “Now you are stepping into a world without perfect answers. It’s okay to make mistakes—just keep moving forward,” aiming to reduce their fear of failure. Furthermore, he highlighted the value of creativity and individuality. With the message, “Have the courage to choose a path different from others; that courage will ultimately take you the farthest. Start freely today,” he underscored the importance of independent and creative decision-making.

The graduates present responded with cheers and applause when the video was shown, visibly moved by the heartfelt encouragement rooted in the experiences and insights of this world-renowned artist. G-Dragon’s connection to KAIST began in June 2024. Under a strategy to enhance Korea’s cultural global competitiveness by integrating cutting-edge science and technology with K-content and the cultural industry, KAIST appointed him as a special professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. His appointment was set for two years, ending in June 2026.

At the time of his appointment, G-Dragon clearly outlined his ambitions. He expressed, “It’s an honor to become an adjunct professor at KAIST, a place that produces numerous scientific geniuses. I hope that my expertise in entertainment, combined with the top scientific and technical experts here, will create significant synergy—what I call a ‘BIGBANG’.” He also posted a photo of his KAIST academic uniform on his Instagram Story, demonstrating his genuine commitment to collaborating with the institution.

Beyond mere promotional roles, G-Dragon has engaged in substantive activities. In 2024 and 2025, he attended “Innovate Korea” consecutively, delivering special talks on the theme of “The Future of AI Entertech” and sharing his vision for combining creativity with advanced technology. His agency, Galaxy Corporation, has worked closely with KAIST to establish an “AI Entertech Research Center,” currently pursuing research projects that apply digital twins, AI avatars, and metaverse technology to the entertainment industry.

KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung praised G-Dragon by saying, “Professor G-Dragon possesses a pioneering spirit of exploring unknown territories, which aligns perfectly with KAIST’s ethos.” President Lee Jae-myung also attended the graduation ceremony that day alongside his wife, Kim Hye-kyung.