BIGBANG’s G-Dragon Reveals “Unexpected” Endorsement—Reactions Unusually Divided

The reveal came as a simple Instagram update.

Given how iconic he is to the K-Pop world, BIGBANG member G-Dragon‘s endeavors are, more often than not, celebrated. His latest endorsement, though, has since garnered some divided reactions from fans in Korea.

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BIGBANG’s G-Dragon | MT

On January 11, 2025 (KST) at 11:11 PM, G-Dragon uploaded a picture to his Instagram featuring his nail art of Hana Bank‘s logo. Given the “#AD” in the caption, G-Dragon’s fans immediately became excited for what was to come.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by G-DRAGON (@xxxibgdrgn)

But when the picture of his nail began circulating on the internet, the online reaction was more divided. A post on theqoo saw hundreds of comments wild at war over whether or not G-Dragon and Hana Bank seemed like a good fit for one another—especially given the history of South Korean bank brands being relatively conservative with their models.

Screenshot 2025-01-11 at 7.39.30 PM
| theqoo
  • “I think Hana Bank does a good job selecting models who are trendy for the time. Aiki was a good fit, too.”
  • “Can’t wait for the debit card design.”
  • “Looking forward to seeing the ad!”
Screenshot 2025-01-11 at 7.38.47 PM
| theqoo
  • “But isn’t G-Dragon not really the best fit for a bank model? That said, I had no idea he was running a foundation to fight drug abuse.”
  • “LMAO. Baffles me.”
  • “I don’t get why a financial group would make such a choice, but OK.”
Screenshot 2025-01-11 at 7.36.35 PM
| theqoo
  • “A bank model…?”
  • “I don’t really see him as the right fit for a bank model, but…”
  • “I mean, he already has experience successfully collaborating with IBK Bank. So what’s the issue now?”
Screenshot 2025-01-11 at 7.37.26 PM
| theqoo
  • “The nail art is cute, haha.”
  • “Rooting for G-Dragon!”
  • “He was obviously born to be a star, like… Just look at the way he revealed his endorsement with a single fingernail. Born different.”

Amid the buzz, Hana Financial Group stated that G-Dragon was selected as the new model for the group for his “trendy and creative image.”

G-Dragon’s trendy and creative image, characterized by his unique sense of creativity and distinctive music, aligns with the group’s vision of ‘Finance for All Connected as One.’ This reflects Hana’s commitment to building an innovative platform and creating new financial value.

— Hana Financial Group

G-Dragon is said to have expressed great expectations for the endorsement. Hans Biz reported that the idol found the partnership to be “particularly meaningful” as he would get to explore innovative and unprecedented approaches in the realm of advertising and marketing.

 

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A post shared by 하나은행 (@hanabank_official)

Stay tuned for updates!

Source: Hansbiz and theqoo (1) and (2)

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