Over the weekend, K-pop icon G-Dragon (권지용) held his highly anticipated 2-day “Übermensch” concert in Kuala Lumpur. Ever since ticket sales went live, the show has been a hot topic among Malaysian fans due to issues surrounding scalping and foreign buyers. Concert organiser Star Planet attempted to address the scalping problem by re-releasing a few hundred tickets; however, they were soon met with fresh accusations.
Although the concert itself was amazing, on the first day, Malaysian fans, including influencers, highlighted several concerns about the event, alleging unfair treatment by the organiser. This appeared to confirm some of their suspicions about what had been going on behind the scenes. Here’s a breakdown of what happened during the performance that left many Malaysian fans upset.
Empty Seats
After the venue gates were opened, fans claimed that many seats remained empty despite the concert being sold out, suspecting that scalpers had been unable to resell their tickets in time. Those waiting outside also alleged that a significant number of VIP pass lanyards were left unclaimed at the registration counter, even after the concert had started.
Thankfully, the seats were eventually filled, as observed by several fans, including TV presenter Hani Fadzil. However, this did not entirely dispel allegations that many of the seats had been secured by foreign fans.
Reactions to G-Dragon Speaking Malay
As Malaysians, we love hearing our favourite idols attempt to speak our national language during their appearances, and we often cheer in appreciation of their efforts to interact with us. However, local fans who attended the weekend shows claimed that there was hardly any reaction from the crowd when G-Dragon spoke in Malay, despite his attempts to engage with the audience.
This fuelled suspicions that a significant portion of the audience were not locals and therefore could not understand what the idol was saying. Influencer Alex HKF also noted that the rapper spoke very little Malay on Day 2 of the concert, although this may have been due to health reasons, as he appeared to be conserving his energy.
Crowd Comparison to Other BIGBANG Members
@nody_meow WE BLAME STARPLANET but your attitude to GD are rude & need to be called out!! This happened in other countries like Philippines & Australia! Not only Malaysia, it’s just our event organizer blatantly openly scalping all the tix to ppl in CHINA! #GDRAGONINKL #GDINKL #GD #BIGBANG #TAEYANG #kangdaesung
As many may know, two other BIGBANG members had performed in Malaysia prior to G-Dragon’s concert. A video circulated on TikTok highlighting the contrast in local fans’ excitement during those shows compared to G-Dragon’s. The clips showed an electric atmosphere at the previous concerts, with fans singing and dancing along to the songs. In contrast, at G-Dragon’s show, particularly among those in the front row, the crowd appeared less enthusiastic, with little crowd participation or singing. This led to speculation that many of those in prime spots were foreign attendees.
Local Fans Enjoying the Concert From Outside the Venue
@lavienput cat 8 protesting #gdinkl #gdragoninkl
It’s not uncommon to see fans enjoying a concert from outside the venue, either because they couldn’t afford tickets or were unable to secure seats. However, this scene at G-Dragon’s show sparked widespread backlash online, with many accusing the organiser of prioritising foreign buyers. Videos circulated showing fans booing the staff and chanting for the doors to be opened to let them in to enjoy the concert.
Prior to showtime, it was reported that members of the BIGBANG star’s team approached fans outside the venue, inviting them to leave warm messages for the idol. Many were seen in tears after expressing their emotions and disappointment at not being able to see him perform live on stage. The viral clips drew sympathy from other fans who had also been unable to secure tickets.
@jadeharley21 Even fans pun cakap “buka pintu” but diorang tak bagi kita chance pun, memang kena beli dari scalpers baru bole masuk 🫠. #GDinKL #GD #GDRAGONINMY #GDRAGONinKL #GDRAGON
At the time of writing, Star Planet Malaysia has yet to publicly address the allegations made against them. It’s unfortunate that many fans had such an experience, and we hope that the next time G-Dragon—or BIGBANG as a group—returns to Malaysia, it will be an even bigger and better occasion for everyone.
