IU and G-Dragon reunite on 'IU’s Palette'

K-Pop superstars IU and G-Dragon delighted fans with a long-awaited reunion on the latest episode of IU’s Palette.

G-Dragon’s guest appearance on IU’s music talk show marked a meaningful moment for both artists and their supporters. At the start of the episode, IU expressed surprise upon learning that G-Dragon had mentioned feeling awkward around her in a pre-interview. However, he quickly reassured her, saying, “I don’t [feel awkward around you]! Haven’t we gotten a lot closer than before?”

The two reminisced about their first meeting in seven years at IU’s concert last year, where they felt surprisingly at ease despite the long time gap.

Naturally, the conversation turned to their iconic 2017 collaboration, Palette. IU revealed that she had asked G-Dragon to perform the song with her, knowing how much fans had been waiting for it. She then surprised viewers by revealing that G-Dragon had rewritten the lyrics to create a 2025 version of the song.

The BIGBANG member explained his thought process behind updating the lyrics, recalling IU’s original vision for the song: “At the time, when you were making the song, you said you wanted to leave certain songs for certain ages. Back then, we were thirty and twenty-five. We sang it at a very pretty age. But now…” he laughed before adding, “So I thought a lot about what to say [in the new lyrics].”

Palette, the title track of IU’s fourth studio album, remains their most notable collaboration. The song, which IU wrote about embracing her personal growth at 25, featured a rap verse from G-Dragon that added a reflective and supportive tone to her self-discovery journey.

The collaboration was widely praised for its sincerity and relatability, topping charts in South Korea and earning multiple accolades, including Song of the Year at the 32nd Golden Disc Awards.

Prior to Palette, IU had also made a surprise appearance at BIGBANG’s Galaxy Tour: The Final concert in 2014, where she performed her hit Missing Child before sharing the stage with G-Dragon.

Their long-awaited duet of Palette was a highlight of the episode, bringing fans nostalgia and excitement nearly eight years after its release.

Now, with their updated 2025 version, IU and G-Dragon prove once again that their musical synergy is as strong as ever.