Thousands of fans greeted the return of G-Dragon to K-pop boyband Big Bang after he was discharged from military service.
The 31-year-old, whose real name is Kwon Ji-yong, completed almost two years of mandatory military service and was discharged at the headquarters of South Korean Army's Ground Operations Command in Yongin, southeast of Seoul.
It was originally planned that he would leave military service near the border with North Korea.
This is an area where officials are working to contain African swine fever, which affects pigs and the switch was apparently motivated by a desire to limit traffic in the area.
With South Korea still technically at war with North Korea, all men are expected to complete mandatory military service.
G-Dragon completed a year and eight months before more than 500 fans from China, Japan and across Asia cheered after waiting overnight to see the moment he emerged from the military base, at 8am.
Speaking to the crowd, G-Dragon, who was wearing a dark brown military uniform and beret, said: "Thank you for waiting. I will return to my job and faithful to my work."
He then entered a black van and departed as fans took photos, waved and followed the van.
G-Dragon then headed too an event nearby where 3,000 fans celebrated his return to the pop groug.
Originally a five-member band, Big Bang, after debuting in 2006, often topped the South Korean music charts and gained a huge following before members began to enter mandatory military service in 2017.
Bandmate Seungri left the band and retired from the music industry in March after he was accused of alleged sex bribery.
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