1. Announcement on the cancellation of GD&TOP's Japanese single release [NEWS]
Translation:

Member of BIGBANG, G-Dragon, was investigated by the prosecutor's office in Seoul (South Korea) due to suspicion of smoking marijuana last May. The result of the drug test came out positive but there weren't any legal penalties because only the hair test was positive.

Avex and YG Entertainment had a discussion after Avex heard the announcement. G-Dragon received a suspension of indictment but the news has an influence on (how he will be viewed by) Japanese society*. Because of this, Avex has considered this fact sincerely and has decided to cancel the release of GD&TOP's Japanese single, Oh Yeah (feat Bom of 2NE1) on November 9th, even if the incident happened before they had a contract with Avex.

We apologize to everyone and to all of the fans for this incident. We will try our best so that something like this will not happen ever again.
Avex Entertainment Oct 6th 2011

2.Why was G-Dragon singled out? [NEWS]

 Big Bang’s G-Dragon received a suspension of indictment recently for smoking marijuana. As ripples of the events are shocking the fans, some are starting to wonder why out of all the members in Big Bang, only G-Dragon was investigated for the charges.

According to the prosecution, G-Dragon smoked marijuana while in Japan in mid-May. YG Entertainment, G-Dragon’s management company, also officially issued a statement of admission and apology, “While on tour in Japan in May, they were out drinking with the event coordinators in Japan and when G-Dragon went to the restroom, someone who appeared to be a fan gave him what he thought was a cigarette. He inhaled a couple of times but felt different from a cigarette so he remembers throwing it out in the toilette”. It is believed that G-Dragon’s contact with marijuana occurred during Big Bang’s tour in Japan from May 10th through the 19th in Osaka, Chiba, and Nagoya.

Some are starting to wonder then why G-Dragon was singled out. If Big Bang was on tour together during that time, why was G-Dragon the only one subjected to the urine and hair testing for drugs? The prosecutor’s office simply stated, “There was only information regarding G-Dragon. There was no mention of other members, therefore only G-Dragon was investigated”.

The fans wonder yet, because once drug-related stories break out they tend to continue with others given past history. Entertainment industry insiders are worried that G-Dragon’s investigation will be followed by others in a string. The prosecutor’s office verified, “There are no other active investigations ongoing at this time other than G-Dragon”. For now.

Source: Sports Seoul

3.Se7en, T.O.P, Seungri visit G-Dragon at North Face shoot [NEWS]

 G-Dragon's schedule for a photo shoot went ahead as planned despite his recent scandal of smoking marijuana while in Japan. Apparently, there has been false information on the cancellation of his shoot with "The North Face" as he proceeded with the schedule as planned.

According to reports, the shoot finished by six in the evening and they immediately left the scene with care. YG Entertainment provided security as their vans blocked the front entrance of the area while G-Dragon went out at the back exit.

G-Dragon's friends from YG Entertainment also paid a visit to support him on the ongoing turmoil. It was noted that Se7en, Big Bang's TOP and Seungri as well as stylist Yang Seungho stayed with G-Dragon for the whole duration of the shoot.

One of the staff present in the shoot remarked that Se7en is like a brother to G-dragon and was revealed to have been able to brighten up the star with his visit. However, Yang Hyunsuk and other agency officials weren't able to visit.

News source: Dispatch via Nate, Koreaboo

4.New photos of T.O.P for "Soul by Ludacris" headphones [PHOTOS]

［M/V］Gummy-ゴメンネ feat.T.O.P(BIGBANG)Short.Ver

G-Dragon caught smoking marijuana but gets off with a suspension of indictment [NEWS]

It has been revealed that Big Bang’s G-Dragon had been investigated by the prosecutors’ office of Korea for allegedly smoking marijuana.

Seoul central prosecutors’ office, violent criminal division’s chief prosecutor has stated, “We decided to rule suspension of indictment on behalf of G-Dragon for him breaking the drug law.” According to the prosecutors’ office G-Dragon has smoked marijuana in Japan back in May and he was tested positive for a drug test done in July.

A spokesperson for the prosecutors’ office stated:

“G-Dragon was given a cigarette in a club in Japan from an individual who he didn’t even know the name. He said it smelled different from the regular cigarettes and he suspected it of being marijuana, but that he did smoke a little anyway.

G-Dragon is not a regular smoker of marijuana and this is his first time smoking it. Also, the amount of it he had in his system was too small to lawfully rule it a positive drug test. We have considered the fact that he is only a college student and therefore have ruled suspension of indictment on his behalf.”

By receiving a suspension of indictment the crimes go under your records, but for considerations of age, the severity of crime, and behavior after the fact, you do not get prosecuted.

Source: Joongang via Nate
Translation from JJ@kpopfever.com

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G-Dragon's "Suspension of Indictment for Smoking Marijuana"

Currently Big Bang’s G-Dragon has caused shockwaves because of the fact that he was seen smoking marijuana and had positive results for a hair drug test.

On October 5, According to the prosecutor Kim Hwe Jong of the Seoul “Serious Crime Squad” department (This department takes care of serious crimes such as drugs etc.), “Currently G-Dragon is under the suspicion of indictment for the suspicion of smoking marijuana.”

(Basically, G-Dragon did smoke marijuana, but taking into consideration several factors the prosecutor's office is not giving him a serious charge, he is not being indicted.)

According to the prosecutor’s office, around May, G-Dragon smoked marijuana in Japan. The prosecutor’s office gave G-Dragon a hair drug test and the results were positive. It is being said that G-Dragon confessed to having smoked marijuana at a club in Japan according to the report of the prosecutor’s office.

According to the report, G-Dragon, “Went to a Japanese club and received a cigarette from a Japanese stranger, he smoked one of them but the smell was different from cigarette smoke, however he still smoked a little bit of it.”

The prosecutor’s office stated that they put G-Dragon under “the suspicion of indictment” (Which recognizes the criminal suspicion/charges but takes into consideration other factors such as age, criminal motive, and remorse etc. Thus, the prosecutor’s office is not officially indicting him.

Source: Soompi

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G-Dragon caught smoking marijuana

It has been reported that Big Bang‘s leader G-Dragon has been caught by the police for smoking marijuana.

“We indicted G-Dragon on the charges of smoking marijuana,” said a representative for the Seoul police on October 5th.

According to investigators, G-Dragon had smoked marijuana sometime in the middle of May this year, and had taken a drug test in July. Although the results had come back negative with an initial urine test, further tests overturned that decision, and he had confessed at the time that he had been taking the drug at a Japanese club when he had visited the country for a concert.

“I smoked a cigarette that someone had given me at a club,” G-Dragon said. “The smell was somewhat different from that of a regular cigarette so I was slightly suspicious that it was marijuana, but it is true that I smoked it,” he said.

According to investigators, since the amount of marijuana was so small and G-Dragon had no prior offences, they decided to give him a warning.

Source: Sports Seoul, Kyunghyang via Nate
Translation: allkpop

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G-Dragon caught for smoking marijuana

Big Bang member G-Dragon has gotten caught for illegal drug use, according to a report on Wednesday.

An article by local news agency Yonhap quoted the Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office as saying that they suspended indictment of the 23-year-old singer on charges of smoking marijuana.

G-Dragon smoked the drug in Japan in mid-May and tested positive in July, prosecutors explained.

G-Dragon is said to have admitted to his wrongdoing, confessing that he smoked it while at a club in Japan for a concert.

"A person that I don't know gave me a cigarette which I suspected might be marijuana because it smelled different from normal cigarettes but it's true I smoked a bit of it," G-Dragon was quoted as saying in the report.

However, prosecutors did not indict the singer immediately in consideration of various factors including the fact that it was his first time, the amount he smoked was under punishable levels and he is a college student.

His agency YG Entertainment has yet to state their official position on the incident.
YG Entertainment reacts to G-Dragon’s marijuana case 
[NEWS]

“On June 15th, there was a search-and-seizure done on G-Dragon,” said a representative for the police. “The original urine tests came out negative, but a hair test performed in July, the results came out positive,” he said.

YG Entertainment had no immediate reaction. “It’s a shock,” said CEO Yang Hyun Suk. “We will make an official statement when everything has been verified.”

“There has been an emergency meeting,” revealed a YG insider. “It appears necessary to change our plans for Big Bang as well as GD&TOP,” he said. “G-Dragon is undergoing self-reflection as well.”

This latest incident is expected to have negative effects on G-Dragon’s scheduled comeback later this month, as well as GD&TOP’s promotions in Japan. YG’s standing on the KOSDAQ, Korea’s stock index, is expected to take a hit, as well.

Source: EDaily, Allkpop

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“YGE State of Emergency”: From G-Dragon & Marijuana, Daesung’s Car Accident, to Stocks

YG Entertainment is in a state of emergency because of the mishaps that have been occurring lately, that started with Daesung’s unfortunate accident and now G-Dragon and his suspension of indictment for smoking marijuana.

Big Bang’s G-Dragon has caused shockwaves due to his smoking marijuana. He is currently under the suspension of indictment (which is basically a warning) for smoking marijuana in Japan. According to a representative of the prosecutor’s office, “On June 15, there was a search-and-seizure and the urine test at that time had come out negative, in July a hair drug test turned out positive.”

The CEO of YG Entertainment, Yang Hyun Suk stated, “It is shocking, after we have determined the matter of fact we will give out an official response.” An insider of YG Entertainment also stated, “We are holding an emergency meeting. It appears that a lot of plans for Big Bang and GD&TOP need to be changed. G-Dragon will ‘take out some time for self-reflection’ (He is going to take a break from promoting activities). He feels a lot of remorse at the moment.”

Originally, GD&TOP were going to officially debut in Japan with the single “Oh Yeah (Feat. BOM)” on November 9.

Currently Big Bang’s other member Daesung is also going through some “self-reflection time” because of the car accident that resulted in another man’s death. Although he was acquitted, it is being said that he will not return within this year.

YG Entertainment has another major problem, stocks. In June YG Entertainment went through the initial phase for being listed on KOSDAQ, but they are still not listed. Experts are stating that the recent string of incidents will probably not stop YG Entertainment from being listed. However, YG Entertainment relies on its celebrities and their activities. Thus, all of these accidents that are occurring will probably have a negative impact on YG Entertainment stocks if they do become listed.

Currently YG Entertainment recorded sales of nearly $45 million from January 1 to June 30. 27.98% is from Big Bang’s concerts such as “2011 BIG Show” and “Love & Hope.”

Credits: Soompi

1. Taeyang @ Lotte Duty Free Family Concert 2011.10.01 [PHOTOS]

2.T.O.P's "A Shot A Day" for Nikon 2011.10.03 [PHOTOS]

3.Han Hyun Soo tweets a sneaky photo of Taeyang [MISC]

 Han Hyun Soo is a former YG trainee and a close friend of Taeyang and G-Dragon. He now works as a designer in London (but is probably in Korea right now).

4.Which K-pop groups are the most popular in Japan? [NEWS]

From Nikkei Entertainment October issue interview with the music officials in Japan:

- A total of 300 women interested in Kpop were questioned, age group ranging from girls in their 10s to women in their 50s with 60 people from each age group,
- Period of Inquiry: 2011 July 23 - 25th
- The orange represents the respondents who know everything about the groups and their songs.
- The pink represents the respondents who know of the group/members but do not know their songs.
- The percentages for each were added up to give the final percentage.

Male Idols:

1. TVXQ (100%)
2. Supernova (98%)

3. BIGBANG (88%)

*39% of respondends know everything about BIGBANG and their songs. 49% of respondents do not know their songs but know the members of BIGBANG.

4. 2PM (63%)
5. Beast (60%)
6. Super Junior (40%)
7. SHINee (39%)
8. F.T. Island (36%)
9. DGNA/The Boss (36%)
10. 2AM (32%)
11. SS501
12. Infinite
13. CN Blue
14. MBLAQ
15. ZE:A
16. U-Kiss
17. SHU-I
18. SM☆SH
19. Apeace
20. Boyfriend
21. Teen Top
22. X-5
23. F-CUZ

Female Idols:

1. SNSD (99%)
2. KARA (98%)
3. 4Minute (40%)
4. After School (38%)
5. T-ARA (37%)
6. 2NE1 (24%)
7. SISTAR (22%)
8. Secret (18%)
9. Wonder Girls(17%)
10. Brown Eyed Girls (16%)
11. f(x)
12. Rainbow
13. Miss A
14. Jewelry
15. 5-Dolls
16. Girl's Day
17. Nine Muses
18. A-Pink
19. Dal ☆ Shabet

Sources: Telzone, JPNews
Korean to English: Egle@2PMAlways via Omona