“Born in ’88, Back After 88 Months” G-Dragon Shares the Surprising Reason Behind His Long Hiatus

K-pop legend G-Dragon made a long-awaited appearance on the March 27 episode of IU’s Palette, where he opened up about his extended break from the spotlight and how it coincidentally aligned with a number that holds personal meaning: 88.

IU welcomed him warmly, saying, “You’ve finally returned to us after such a long time,” and asked about his lengthy absence from the music scene.

G-Dragon, born in 1988, responded with honesty and humor.

“I missed the right timing. There was COVID, my military service, and one thing led to another… So, it ended up being just over seven years. It unintentionally became 88 months.”

IU playfully asked if he had planned it that way. G-Dragon explained:

“It was purely instinctual. It came down to just a one-day difference. I was going to release it on October 31, but if it had been November 1, it would’ve been 89 months. For some reason, I just really wanted to release it on October 31.”

When IU pressed him “Did you calculate it?” he admitted he had considered the timing roughly in terms of years and months, but hadn’t set out to match the exact number.

“Well, I did think of it as 7 years and 4 months or so. I didn’t think of it as 88 months specifically. These days, I keep seeing the number 8 everywhere. It’s almost eerie. I guess it’s my number.”

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Fans found his response both amusing and symbolic. Given that G-Dragon is not only born in ’88 but also known for his artistic sensitivity and attention to symbolism, the “8 motif” feels right at home in his story.

As he returns to the industry, fans are celebrating not just his comeback—but the poetic symmetry of his reemergence. After all, with a number like 8 symbolizing infinity and new beginnings in many cultures, perhaps this 88-month wait was more fitting than even he realized.