K-pop Star G-Dragon’s Music Launched into Space in Groundbreaking KAIST Project

K-pop icon G-Dragon has made history as his music and artistic visuals were transmitted into space through a collaborative project with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). On April 10, KAIST’s Space Research Institute successfully beamed the artist’s audio tracks and iris-scan imagery into orbit using satellite technology, marking the world’s first media-art-based space transmission initiative.

The project was spearheaded by KAIST’s Graduate School of Culture Technology professor Lee Jin-joon in partnership with G-Dragon’s entertainment-tech startup, Galaxy Corporation. At 8 p.m. on April 9, the team transmitted the singer’s music and AI-generated music video—created using OpenAI’s Sora tool—into the cosmos. A Galaxy Corporation representative described the endeavor as a milestone for “EnterTech,” a fusion of entertainment, space science, and artificial intelligence.

The transmission was conducted in collaboration with NASA’s Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) program, which previously sent songs by The Beatles into space. G-Dragon’s project is now recognized as South Korea’s first SETI-linked artistic space mission.

In a parallel development, KAIST and Galaxy Corporation held a ceremony to establish an “AI EnterTech Research Center” at KAIST’s main campus. This initiative aligns with KAIST’s broader strategy to merge art and cutting-edge technology, fostering innovative cultural content.

G-Dragon, who was appointed as a visiting professor at KAIST’s Department of Mechanical Engineering in June 2023, participated in a panel discussion on AI-driven entertainment technologies alongside KAIST professor Lee Seung-seop and Galaxy Corporation CEO Choi Yong-ho. The project underscores his unique role in bridging K-pop, AI, and space exploration.

The mission not only celebrates artistic innovation but also positions South Korea as a emerging leader in interdisciplinary space-tech collaborations. Industry observers anticipate this breakthrough will inspire future ventures at the intersection of entertainment and science.