BigBang's leader G-Dragon and YG Entertainment are under police investigation following a composer's allegations that their 2010 live-album track "My Age Is 13" unlawfully used his work.
The composer, identified only as Mr. A, filed a complaint in November 2024 with Seoul's Mapo Police Station, claiming that a song he registered with the Korea Music Copyright Association in 2001 under the title "G-DRAGON" was copied without permission, retitled, and included in G-Dragon's solo concert album, Shine a Light.
According to police sources, Mr. A alleged that YG Entertainment not only failed to credit him but also reworked his composition to appear original. He claims that the song was retitled "My Age Is 13" and blended with other tracks "Storm," "Hip Hop Gentlemen," and "G-Dragon" to form a four-and-a-quarter-minute medley listed as the fifth track on the album.
In response, YG Entertainment issued a statement rejecting claims of intent to infringe copyright. The company described the issue as a "song-title mix-up" during preparations for G-Dragon's 2009 solo concert, stating that two distinct songs shared the same title. YG maintained that no unauthorized audio copying occurred and vowed to cooperate fully if a miscrediting error did take place.
Since the complaint, Mapo police have conducted two search‐and‐seizure operations, including a raid on YG's headquarters in Seoul. Investigators also executed a search at YG Entertainment's offices, seizing documents and digital files for analysis.
Authorities have questioned key figures, including G-Dragon; the label's founder, Yang Hyun-suk; former CEO Yang Min-suk; and YG Plus CEO Choi Sung-jun. A police official confirmed that interviews with all those named in the complaint are ongoing and that the materials obtained are under forensic review.
The case has drawn heightened attention as G-Dragon departed YG Entertainment in 2023 and signed with Galaxy Corporation after clearing his name in an unrelated 2023 drug investigation. The plagiarism allegations mark the first major legal challenge related to G-Dragon's early work and have fueled debate among fans and industry observers over intellectual property protections in K-pop.
YG Entertainment stressed that it will "fully explain and cooperate" if further clarifications are needed. Meanwhile, the police continue to gather evidence and expect to complete their investigation before deciding whether to press formal charges.
