According to Yang Hyun Seok, CEO, producer and representative of YG Entertainment, 2011 was a year full of bad memories.

He particularly took a hit when two friends he cares for (Daesung and G-Dragon) were involved in accidents, Daesung having an involuntary car accident and G-Dragon being caught in a marijuana scandal. He says he’s fine now, but at the time, it was really difficult to bear.

However, Big Bang will rise again in March of this year. Last year they got a taste of a few European cities, but there’s no better way to celebrate the beginning of a new year than a world tour for YG and KPOP.

This weekend, reporters met with Yang Hyun Seok at his office in Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul.

Though Yang Hyun Seok is rumored to be worth around 1000 billion won, he keeps the exact value of the company a secret. However, it is relatively sure that more than half of YG stock value is due to Big Bang and their activities.

“Last year was a really difficult year. I’ve been working hard since I was 13, so it was difficult to bear the things that my friends caused me. I wanted to develop the mind of a parent. In the 15 years that YG Entertainment has been operating, I wanted to instill in the kids a sense of freedom. But now, I thought that a sense of moderation was also important.”

Yang Hyun Seok said that things haven’t happened so rapidly and in such a difficult-to-bear way since he was a member of Seo Taiji & Boys, but he has come to realize that when things happen, they must be acknowledged quickly in order to be dealt with. As Yang Hyun Seok himself puts it, he isn’t a brother but a parent, and he tried to behave moderately as an uncle would, but in the last half of last year he came to feel very sorry towards the members of Big Bang.

“I think that both Big Bang and I learned a lot. Last year, Big Bang wouldn’t go out together but would only see each other in the studio. Without those days, I probably wouldn’t be as prepared as I am. It was bitter, but it was good medicine. It’s difficult for most singers to make it past 5 years, and we’ve become more hardened.”

So he has great hopes for Big Bang this year. Before their world tour, Big Bang is expected to promote successfully.

“I feel like both producers and the entire world are watching now. When we create content, we’re being more aware of not embarrassing ourselves, and doing everything with a devoted heart.”

This time, promotions for Big Bang are going to be on a large scale. YG Entertainment has previously stood by its tendency to make conservative investments, but this time they are in agreement that now is not the time to spare expense on Big Bang’s popularity. YG now concedes that in order to win, quality is important. From One Time to Big Mama, Se7en, Big Bang, and 2NE1, YG Entertainment has always been a company that prides itself on the top quality of the music it produces.

“These days in broadcasting or media, they keep saying that Hallyu singers need to be accessible outside Hallyu concerts, but Big Bang isn’t really,” Yang Hyun Seok said. This time, part of Big Bang and YG Entertainment’s method of promotion involves the use of a variety of SNS (social networking sites) to distribute their content.

Most fans now are wondering about Big Bang’s comeback and plans for a world tour.

“The biggest advantage of Big Bang is that when they’re together as five they shine, but each of them has the ability to make a solo album. So I think that instead of being one team, Big Bang is a six-team.” The idea is that Big Bang is ‘separate and together.’ And of the members, Daesung is the one who suffered the most pain last year, so many of the songs on the upcoming album will be especially for him.

In March of this year, Big Bang will have their domestic comeback, followed by the first half of their world tour which will take place in Korea, Japan and other places in Asia. The second half of their world tour is expected to take them to Europe, North America and South America. As such, the quality of YG cannot be measured.

“On stage, light and sound are the most important, but we want to separate from and play with stereotypes. So we’ve taken a lot of Japanese staff to help us write an agreement with the American agency Live Nation.” Live Nation is an international performance company that represents artists like Beyonce and Lady Gaga.

Yang Hyun Seok says that Big Bang is not one team, but a six-team, referring to the intersection of Big Bang with the individual activities of members Daesung, Seungri, G-Dragon, TOP and Taeyang. When you focus on each solo, then the five members can focus on the team as well, so even on the tour there will be help from all sides.

“This is the first time that Daesung has been able to have a solo. Last year was a year full of wounds, and we’re going to wash that all away,” said Yang Hyun Seok.

As always, YG is a family where care for one another runs deep.

SOURCE: MyDaily via Nate

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