The King of K-pop brings his 'Übermensch' tour to the Philippines

I finally got to cross off something from my cultural bucket list: watching G-Dragon live in concert.

While I wouldn’t call myself a full-fledged K-pop fanatic, I can’t keep up with all the groups and comebacks. However, G-Dragon has always stood out. Even in an industry known for dazzling visuals and tightly choreographed spectacles, he’s carved out a lane that is uniquely his own: a strange, stylish, genre-defying one-man universe. So when he announced his world tour "Übermensch," and Manila was on the list, I knew I had to be there.

"Übermensch," borrowed from Nietzsche, refers to a state of being beyond human limitation, a fitting title for an artist who seems determined not to be boxed in. Watching G-Dragon perform felt like stepping into the mind of someone in constant dialogue with himself, pushing boundaries not for applause, but out of creative necessity.

At the Philippine Arena, the energy was unmistakably electric. Customized buses blaring his music organized by one of his fan bases, G-Dragon International (GDI) and Fans on Board, transported some concertgoers. Fans handed out free-themed giveaways—everything from photo cards to cookies, pins, charms, and the ever-curious Thai nose inhalers (I didn’t ask why). But underneath all the glitter and gadgets was a sense of collective anticipation. It’s not every day you witness these endearing fan practices to support their idol.

G-Dragon opened with Power—yes, wearing a crown—and the stage instantly turned into a futuristic opera of lights, lasers, and levitating platforms. Songs like Home Sweet Home, which featured videos of his BIGBANG bandmates Taeyang and Daesung, tugged at both nostalgia and new beginnings (yes, he announced that the group will be back next year). Crayon turned the arena into a surreal pop-art party with colorful visuals and confetti.

One of the evening’s highlights came with Crooked, a song now considered a K-pop anthem. It’s loud, raw, and a little chaotic, much like the crowd’s reaction. When GD said “jump,” the entire arena was jumping. I think I went deaf from all the singing and screaming.

Everyone knew the words, or at least felt like they did. At the end of the song, G-Dragon jumped off the stage and into the pit. What a climactic and fitting end for this song about heartbreak making you do disruptive things.

What really struck me, though, was the seamless use of technology. A hologram beatboxer who disappeared before your eyes, a video drone carrying a cute plushie, and lasers that made it feel like we were inside a living, breathing video installation. At one point, images of GD were projected with lasers floating above the stage.

There were, of course, the trademarks: fashion-forward outfits, bling (his diamond jewelry was so dazzling), bold styling, and the famous daisy-shaped Dai-G light sticks glowing like technicolor petals. At one point, the stage erected two towering human figures representing his Übermensch tour and album. The artist says that one represented his old self, and the other, his present self—a statement about his art, identity, evolution, and reinvention.

His story is equally fascinating. Starting in the entertainment industry at six years old, rapping at 13 with a song boldly titled I Am 13, and eventually rising to icon status not just in Korea, but globally. He’s been a Chanel ambassador, Nike collaborator, and more recently, a guest professor at Korea’s prestigious KAIST University. In fact, his song Home Sweet Home and an image of his iris were literally beamed into space this year—perhaps the most literal manifestation of his boundary-pushing ethos.

I’ve followed his work just enough to recognize the arc: from boy wonder to the fashion-forward enigma, now seemingly entering a more introspective, legacy-building phase. That’s what Übermensch felt like—not a comeback concert, but a kind of self-portrait in motion. This wasn’t about chasing trends. It was about showing where he’s been, and where he’s boldly choosing to go. Even in an industry known for reinvention, he stands out as someone not just ahead of the curve, but creating one of his own.

For someone who dipped into K-pop through BIGBANG and casually fell down the G-Dragon rabbit hole a few years ago, this concert was both a visual spectacle and a cultural moment. You don’t have to be a dyed-in-the-wool fan to appreciate the artistry, the ambition, and the sheer command he brings to the stage.