BIGBANG member Daesung has shared the funny story behind his unforgettable first impression of Epik High.
On August 20, Epik High uploaded a new video titled Family Gathering ft. BIGBANG on their YouTube channel, where the members met with BIGBANG to celebrate the group’s comeback.
During the conversation, Daesung recalled one of the first times he encountered Epik High backstage.
He explained, “For our first broadcast, their waiting room was right next to ours. The wall between the rooms was really thin.”
Daesung said Epik High had apparently won first place that day, and he overheard Tablo loudly celebrating from the next room.
He recalled hearing Tablo shout, “Hooray! The CEO just gave me 20 million won as allowance!”
Daesung admitted that the comment completely shaped how he saw Epik High at the time.
He said, “I remember thinking, ‘How can someone get that much as allowance? So this is what a real rock star is like.’”
Taeyang said he also remembered the moment, while DJ Tukutz joked that everyone needed to hear the full story.
Tablo then revealed that the 20 million won allowance was never real.
He explained, “We never even received 2,000 won as allowance.”
According to Tablo, Epik High already knew BIGBANG was in the room next door and felt slightly intimidated by the difference between their agencies at the time.
He said, “You guys were with YG. Your members and staff looked impressive, while we had just won first place but still looked so modest. I didn’t want to feel embarrassed, so I exaggerated a little.”
DJ Tukutz added that their agency was extremely small at the time, joking that it had only two employees.
Tablo also explained that there was another reason behind his playful bragging. He hoped other agency staff nearby might hear it and treat their own rookie artists better.
What Daesung once believed was proof of Epik High’s glamorous lifestyle ultimately turned out to be a humorous backstage bluff, making the story even more memorable years later.
