All remaining members of BIGBANG have renewed their contracts with YG Entertainment as the superstar Kpop group prepares to make a comeback this year while former member Seungri is poised to begin training as an active duty soldier.
According to an announcement made by YG Entertainment, G-Dragon, T.O.P, Taeyang, and Daesung have opted to renew their contracts with the agency for the third time since their debut in 2006.
"Going beyond musical influence, BIGBANG has changed the course of Korean pop culture. YG will continue to support BIGBANG so that they can continue to make K-pop history as a representative group of our label," YG Entertainment announced on March 11.
BIGBANG is expected to perform as a group for the first time when they appear for the Coachella Music Festival in California. This will be their first group appearance after all four members completed their mandatory enlistment.
However, this will also mark the first time that they will not be joined by BIGBANG maknae Seungri who announced his retirement from the entertainment industry last year.
It can be recalled that Seungri was embroiled in the controversial Burning Sun scandal last year and was accused of providing prostitutes to business partners in the establishment. He was later accused and cleared of participating in Jung Joon Young's molka scandal wherein a series of group chats revealed the singer's illegal distribution of video footage of his sexual conquests.
Jung Joon Young, FT Island's Choi Jong Hoon, and several others were sentenced to prison for molka and gang rape late last year.While Seungri was cleared of the sex scandal after the transcripts of the chats were revealed, teh former BIGBANG member faced additional investigation for illegal overseas gambling and foreign exchange transactions.
After an arrest warrant was intially rejected by the judge, Seungri was indicted by the prosecution on charges of charges violating laws on prostitution, illegal gambling and foreign currency trading last January.
However, the case would have to be turned over to the military court once Seungri begins the fulfillment of his 21-month military conscription reported AP.
It can be recalled that Seungri requested for the postponement of his enlistment last year to face the series of investigations lodged against him.
In February, the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) sent enlistment documents to Seungri compelling him to report for duty since he is turning 29 this year. The MMA expressed concern that a protracted trial in civilian courts would further delay the singer's fulfillment to the state to serve his mandatory enlistment.
In compliance with the directive, Seungri reported to the 6th Infantry Recruit Training Center in Cheorwon County, Gangwon Province on March 9 to serve five weeks of basic military training before he is transferred to his unit to serve out his enlistment as an active-duty soldier, Soompi reported.
