Earlier this year I started a mini series called K-pop Comebacks, featuring the comebacks of K-pop groups during 2026. So far I've written about BLACKPINK and BTS. Today I'm focusing on boy band BIGBANG (also written as BigBang).
Originally a 5 member group, BIGBANG debuted back in 2006 and became one of the most popular K-pop groups. They were the first idol group to be formed by YG Entertainment (one of the biggest entertainment companies in South Korea) and are a 2nd generation group, among the first K-pop acts to become successful internationally.
The original members were leader G-DRAGON (real name Kwon Ji-young), T.O.P. (Choi Seung-hyun), Taeyang (Dang Young-bae), Daesang (Kang Dae-sang) and Seungri (Lee Seung-hyun). They debuted in August 2006 with the single BigBang in August 2006 and their debut studio album BigBang Vol.1- Since 2007 in December that year.
Their breakout single was LIES (released in August 2007). It was the first single from their first Korean EP Always which came out on the same day and was a chart hit in South Korea. Their popularity grew and they became known as the "Kings of K-pop" and one of the first groups responsible for the Korean wave.
Within Asia, the group was also very successful in Japan, making their debut there with the Japanese EP For the World in January 2008. Their debut Japanese album Number 1 came out in October 2008. One of their most poplar Japanese singles is GARAGARA GO!, released in July 2009.
Their music started out being more hip hop (as well as pop/rap) but has also included different style such as R'n'B and rock over the years
To date they have released 3 Korean albums- Big Bang Vol.1, Remember (2008) and Made (2016). And in addition to Number 1, they have released 4 more Japanese albums- Big Bang (2009), Big Bang 2 (2011), Alive (2012) and Made Series (2016).
They have also released 4 Korean EPs and 3 Japanese ones. Their singles include LIES, With U, Haru Haru, Lollipop with Korean girl group 2NE1, Lollipop Pt.2, BAD BOY, FANTASTIC BABY, MONSTER, FXXK IT, Flower Road and Still Life.
BIGBANG went on hiatus in 2018, since several members had to complete their mandatory military service. They made a comeback in April 2022 with the single Still Life. It was their first (and only) release as a 4-member group, due to line-up changes (see below). The members have all pursued solo careers.
In 2019, Seungri left the group and retired from the entertainment industry due to being involved in the Burning Sun nightclub scandal. He was charged with several things, including arranging meetups with prostitutes and gambling. He was convicted and sent to prison for 3 years in August 2021, but was released in February 2024 after serving 18 months.
In 2023, T.O.P also left, after having his own legal issues due to drug use (he was convicted of smoking marijuana in 2019 and given two years probation). In recent years has concentrated on acting and his solo music career. He returned to music earlier this year with the release of his debut solo studio album Another Dimension and the singles Studio 54 and Desperado in April.
So now the group is continuing as a 3-piece. They are also celebrating their 20th anniversary this year with several projects, including the single BiiiG and a world tour, which started last month.
BIGBANG were one of the first Korean groups that I liked (along with DBSK/TVXQ, BTS, MONSTA X and Girls' Generation). I was sent some of their songs by penpals/online friends around the time that they debuted or a bit afterwards. My favourite songs include How Gee, BAD BOY, I Don't Understand and GARAGARA GO!! It's cool to see them making a comeback. :)
BiiiG
As part of their 20th anniversary celebrations, BIGBANG have released a new single. It's called BiiiG and was released digitally on 19th August. It's their first release in over 4 years (since Still Life) and represents their current identity at they mark their anniversary. The title references both their group name and career.
BiiiG is a mix of Korean and English lyrics. Click "Subtitles/closed captions" on YouTube for English subtitles! )
Also check out their 20th anniversary video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfDOzy2vLG0
For more on BIGBANG visit thee links:
Kprofiles: https://kprofiles.com/big-bang-members-profile/
Official FB page: https://www.facebook.com/BIGBANG/
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigbang_2xx6
Official YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BIGBANG
Hope you enjoyed the post! :) Are you a BIGBANG fan? What do you think of their comeback?
2026 has certainly been the year of K-pop comebacks (as in coming back after a longer time rather than shorter breaks)! The girl group Girls' Generation (whose most recent album is 2022's Forever 1) also recently launched a new sub-unit called Girls Generation- HRS.
Want more BIGBANG? Check out these posts:
Music video for their 2009 Japanese single GARAGARA GO!: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2012/05/weekly-music-video_23.html
Girls vs Boys- K-pop- features BAD BOY (as well as Girls' Generation's Oh!): https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2012/11/girls-vs-boys-k-pop.html
New Music Releases (includes the video for FXXK IT, released in 2016): https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2017/01/new-music-releases.html
Asian Boy Bands- Part 1 (includes info about the group, plus link to the Still Life music video): https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2022/06/asian-boy-bands-part-1.html
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