G-Dragon Faces Backlash from Chinese Fans Over New Year Greeting

K-pop legend G-Dragon has found himself at the center of a heated cultural debate following a recent social media post. On February 17, the Big Bang leader shared a celebratory image on his Instagram account to greet his followers for the new year. However, the post quickly drew a wave of criticism from Chinese internet users who took issue with his use of the term “Lunar New Year” instead of “Chinese New Year.” The comment section of the post was soon flooded with thousands of messages from Chinese fans demanding an apology and insisting that the holiday should be attributed solely to Chinese culture.

This incident highlights the recurring tension between South Korea and China over the naming of the traditional holiday. While “Lunar New Year” is the internationally accepted and inclusive term used by various Asian cultures—including Korea, Vietnam, and Malaysia—many Chinese nationalists argue that the term erases China’s historical influence. G-Dragon is not the first K-pop star to face such scrutiny; several idols and global brands have previously been targeted by “cancel culture” from Chinese netizens for similar phrasing. Despite the growing backlash, G-Dragon has not officially responded to the comments, and his international fanbase has rallied behind him, defending the use of the inclusive term.