G-Dragon album designated as harmful media content

Big Bang member G-Dragon's first solo album "Heartbreaker" has been ruled as being harmful to teenagers, according to the government on Tuesday.

"Both his songs 'Korean Dream' and 'She's Gone' contained vulgar expressions while the latter also made a reference to narcotics," an official at the Commission of Youth Protection, under the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs explained of the reason it designated the album as harmful media content.

The official added that the ruling will become effective starting November 10, after which the albums can only be sold to people over the age of 19 and cannot be aired on radio or television before 10 p.m.

"Heartbreaker", however, has been a hit since its release in mid-August, topping music charts and selling over 200,000 copies in just over a month, according to the singer's agency YG Entertainment.

G-Dragon, 21, is the leader of the five-member idol group who have been popular since their debut in 2006.

Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr