G-Dragon arriving the Chanel 'Code Coco' Watch Launch Party on October 3, 2017 in Paris. Photo: IC

According to an exclusive news report by South Korean news outlet OSEN on Monday, globally acclaimed K-pop idol Kwon Ji-yong, better known by his stage name G-Dragon, is currently working on preparing a solo album. This will not only be his first solo work since his last album in 2017, but also a major comeback for the highly influential 32-year-old star at a time when the industry tends to favor young idols.  

Dubbed the "King of K-pop," G-Dragon is not only the lead of South Korean company YG Entertainment's hugely popular boy band Big Bang, but also a versatile artist who sings, writes, and produces music while also being a fashion icon with his brand PEACEMINUSONE, which was launched in 2016.

The last most recent solo album by G-Dragon, Kwon Ji Yong, was released digitally on June 8, 2017 by YG Entertainment. The following year, G-Dragon's group Big Bang released the single "Flower Road," which he co-wrote.

After completing his mandatory military service in 2019 and following the scandal of fellow group member Seungri, G-Dragon has remained silent in the music industry despite his activity in the fashion world, such as collaborating with big brand Nike to launch jointly-designed trainers. 

Signs that show G-Dragon's possible comeback began after he was seen frequently visiting YG Entertainment's new office building and the studios for YG Entertainment's record labels YGX and The Black Label. 

"It is true that G-Dragon is working on new music," YG Entertainment later confirmed in a statement after news of G-Dragon's comeback drew fans' attention. 

The news about his comeback soon became a trending topic on China's Twitter-like social media platform Sina Weibo, earning more than 300 million views as fans expressed their joy and anticipation. 

"I am not a K-pop fan, but I still got excited when I heard this news," one netizen posted on Sina Weibo. 

"I never feel let down whenever I see news about him, because I know it will not be empty content or just fans bragging. You are always there with something real," posted another.