Korean Army Chief of Staff speaks on rumors of G-Dragon receiving special treatment

By: Jean Nicole Dela Cruz

The Chief of Staff of the Korean Army, Kim Yong Woo, addressed speculations on Thursday, March 14 of G-Dragon receiving special treatment while serving in the military. During a meeting for the National Assembly Committee and Judiciary Law, Congressman Pyo Chang Won raised a concern saying, “The Ministry of National Defense failed to establish a strict discipline against celebrities by allowing incidents such as G-Dragon taking an excessive number of sick leaves more than allowed.” To which Kim responded and said, “There isn’t and shouldn’t be a case of someone receiving special treatment or being applied to the law in an unusual manner just because he is a celebrity or holds a certain position.” The Chief of Staff then swore to take strict and fair action to address the issue. Rumors began to spark up when Dispatch released a report saying the K-pop idol is being taken care of and treated in a VIP hospital room when he complained of chronic pain in his ankles on July of last year. The room was reportedly reserved only for high-ranking military officers. Last month Dispatch then released an article questioning the singer’s current military rank and the amount of sick leaves GD has filed. It was then revealed that GD has failed to receive a customary promotion to the rank of corporal because of his excessive leave of absence of 76 days in total/ G-Dragon, the leader of the idol group Big Bang, enlisted on February 27, 2018 at the 3rd infantry Division and began his official assignment on April 5, 2018. He is currently set to be discharged from the military on November 26, 2019.