K-pop fans have a lot to look forward to as our favourite stars are announcing their tours, and KL is in their lineup of cities! BIGBANG’s Kang Daesung (강대성) or more fondly known in Japan as D-Lite, is set to bring his “D’s Wave” tour to KL this June, and fans grow excited to be graced by the soulful and high-energy that is Daesung.
With 19 years of experience in the entertainment field, Daesung proves to be a powerhouse, where his vocals speak volumes about his prowess as a vocalist. From his history with BIGBANG to his successful solo career in Japan, let’s look at Daesung’s journey towards solo success.
Debuting With BIGBANG
Daesung debuted with BIGBANG in 2006, and from a young age had known that he always wanted to be a singer. His parents had rejected the idea at first, which led the singer to leave home for a week, but they then succumbed to his determination. Daesung debuted under YG Entertainment along with four other members, T.O.P, Seungri, Taeyang and G-Dragon.
They had a fairly successful debut with their first studio album, “BIGBANG Vol. 1”, receiving sales of over 100k copies. The album also featured Daesung’s first solo song, titled “Try Smiling”. Shortly after debuting with BIGBANG, Daesung was diagnosed with vocal cord nodules, which led to him developing social anxiety disorder and stage fright. He was able to overcome this with the help of fellow YG FAMILY singer, Park Jiyeon (박지연), better known as Gummy.
Start Of His Solo Career Journey
After treating his anxiety disorder and stage fright, Daesung made it a point to work on himself and his solo career by trying something new. On 16th June 2008, he released his first single, “Look At Me, Gwisun”, which played into the trot genre. Despite fears of him ruining BIGBANG’s reputation with his traditional debut, the song was warmly received by younger audiences, which was then featured in a full album later released in 2014 called “Delight (D-Lite EP)”.
With the success of his first single, Daesung released his second trot single titled “Big Hit” in 2009. He continued his solo journey as he remained active by having been featured in multiple variety shows, hosted music programs and made his musical debut in the Korean Production of “Cats”, where he played the role of Rum Tum Tugger.
Success of D-Lite In Japan
Beginning his music activities in Japan in 2013, Daesung has achieved an outstanding amount of fans in the land of the rising sun, which prompted him to adopt a new stage name, D-Lite. He released his first solo Japanese album titled “D’scover” on 13th February 2013, which ranked second on the Oricon Daily, the Japanese albums popularity chart.
His success in Japan did not end there as he released two more albums namely, “D-Day” and “Delight 2” as well as three mini albums, “Rainy Rainy”, “D’slove” and Delight”. His mini albums had topped the Japanese iTunes chart and the Oricon Daily Album Chart and his album “D-Day” reached number one on both the Oricon Album Chart and the Billboard Japan Chart.
His success in Japan created opportunities for him to tour around Japan on multiple occasions, with his most successful concert being his 2017 Japan Dome tour, which had 150,000 fans in attendance. He is the first Korean artist to have over 100,000 fans participate in his solo concert tour for two consecutive years.
Current Career & Upcoming Concert in Malaysia
The BIGBANG member had since left YG Entertainment in December 2022, but is still actively promoting with BIGBANG under the group’s activities. In April 2023, he signed with RND Company to stay active in solo activities. The singer has also opened up on new prospects on YouTube as he launched an anonymous account in 2020, but was discovered in March 2021.
He continues to make music as he released a new single titled, “Falling Slowly” in March 2024, as well as his first Korean extended play, “D’s Wave” on 8th April 2025. In conjunction with the release of his mini album, he announced a world tour, “D’s Wave”, where fans eagerly await his return. The “D’s WAVE” Asia Tour kicks off in April at Seoul’s Olympic Hall, followed by stops in Ho Chi Minh City, Taipei, Hong Kong, Kobe, Yokohama, and more.
Amid fan anticipation, Daesung’s agency, R&D Company and D-Label have officially included Malaysia on the tour map. The tour also coincides with the release of Daesung’s first solo mini-album, “D’s WAVE”, making this his first major performance featuring brand-new tracks and a refreshed concept. Renowned for his soulful voice and dynamic stage presence, Daesung promises an unforgettable show filled with heartfelt music and high-energy performances.
This concert is not only a musical celebration, but also a heartwarming reunion between Daesung and his fans. Who knows, just like his member Taeyang, perhaps he too will perform some BIGBANG classics. We sure hope so! Are you excited for Daesung’s comeback to the stage?
Sources: KBizoom, Kpop Fandom Wiki
Alyssa Gabrielle contributed to this article
