G-Dragon's Restaurant Encounter: Grandmother Asks, 'Are You a Celebrity?' — His Signature Goes Viral

BIGBANG has recently become a hot topic on Korean online forums again, and an amusing anecdote about member G-Dragon (Kwon Ji-yong, 권지용) from his military service days has been recirculated by Korean netizens. The funniest part of the story isn't that he was mistaken for an ordinary customer, but that the restaurant owner had no idea who he was, stating, “I only know Na Hoon-a.” G-Dragon’s eventual signature left netizens in stitches.

A post titled “G-DRAGON’s Dining Story (True Experience)” recently circulated on the Korean forum Theqoo. The original poster (OP) shared that their grandmother used to run a Korean restaurant in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, primarily serving soldiers and construction workers. At the time, G-Dragon was serving his military duty in Cheorwon and visited the grandmother’s restaurant with his manager one day.

According to the OP’s retelling, the grandmother didn’t recognize G-Dragon as a celebrity and directly asked him, “Are you an entertainer?” His manager then interjected, “This is a very famous celebrity, don’t you know him?” The grandmother, unfazed, replied, “I don’t know you. I only know Na Hoon-a (나훈아).”

The grandmother then seemed to realize G-Dragon was a star and told him, “Since you’re an entertainer, sign something before you leave.” G-Dragon dutifully left his signature, but the most amusing part was what he wrote beneath it: “I will definitely become like senior Na Hoon-a.” He then left the restaurant.

After the story came to light, netizens were amused by G-Dragon’s reaction, especially his comment, “I will become like senior Na Hoon-a.” Many felt it perfectly matched the wit and humor he had shown in past variety show appearances.

One netizen joked, “GD’s handwriting is so cute,” while another added, “His personality is truly unexpected.” Others commented, “I can imagine him signing and leaving with a laugh,” and “I can totally picture the scene.”

Some also recalled G-Dragon’s past appearance on “Infinite Challenge,” where he interacted with Jung Hyung-don at Dongmyo Market, suggesting he seems to thrive in interactions where people are completely unreserved with him. One netizen even quipped, “Does ‘luck gets better after 50’ mean becoming Na Hoon-a’s successor?”

Another commenter directly stated, “He really will become Na Hoon-a in 20 or 30 years.” The comments show that netizens not only found the experience endearing but also appreciated G-Dragon’s down-to-earth side when interacting with strangers, free of celebrity pretense.

Na Hoon-a (나훈아), whose real name is Choi Hong-ki (최홍기), is a highly influential veteran singer in the Korean music scene, widely regarded as one of the legendary figures in the Korean trot genre.

Debuting in the 1960s, Na Hoon-a has been active in the Korean music industry for decades, with hit songs including “Love” (사랑), “Hometown Station” (고향역), and “Deserted Island” (무인도). He is known for his powerful vocals, strong stage presence, and charismatic, masculine performance style, enjoying immense popularity among Korea’s middle-aged and older generations.

Notably, Na Hoon-a holds a unique position in Korean popular music history, often mentioned alongside another trot superstar, Nam Jin (남진), as one of the most iconic male singers of the 1960s and 70s. While some younger generations might not actively follow him, for many Korean elders, he is a household name and a national treasure.

Therefore, the stark contrast of the restaurant owner calmly stating, “I only know Na Hoon-a” to a top idol like G-Dragon is what makes the story so compelling. It’s no wonder that even years later, this anecdote continues to amuse Korean netizens. And G-Dragon’s line, “I will definitely become like senior Na Hoon-a,” now stands as the most memorable moment of the entire story.