G.O.D's Maknae Kim Tae Woo Reveals How He Convinced Members to Reunite: "They Called Me Crazy"

The youngest member of legendary first-generation K-pop group g.o.d has opened up about his relentless drive to bring the band back together after their 12-year separation, including the struggle to convince even one skeptical former member Yoon Kye Sang to return.

During g.o.d's November 29 appearance on JTBC's "Knowing Bros," members Kim Tae Woo, Danny Ahn, and Son Ho Young shared behind-the-scenes stories from their historic 2014 reunion. The episode marked their return to the show after six years and Danny's first-ever appearance on the program.

Why G.O.D Initially Disbanded

The group's trajectory changed after their fourth album's massive success. While most 1990s K-pop acts signed five-album contracts, g.o.d chose an unconventional path for their fifth release-ditching broadcast promotions entirely for a grueling 100-concert tour.

Cast member Lee Sang Min, himself a veteran of the industry, broke down the business logic: companies knew contracts were ending and wanted to cash in through live performances. The strategy worked, but came at a cost. After nearly two years away from television, the group faced internal pressures.

Yoon Kye Sang departed in 2004 to pursue acting. The remaining four members released two more albums as a quartet before going on indefinite hiatus in 2005.

"Our contracts were all ending at the same time," Son Ho Young explained. "Everyone was thinking about different directions for their careers."

Kim Tae Woo added context to the split: "We all had different perspectives and goals, which created natural disagreements. When Kye Sang hyung left first to go solo, it kind of set the tone. We each went our separate ways on good terms."

The Youngest Member's Ambitious Vision

After completing his military service, Kim Tae Woo became determined to resurrect g.o.d. His fellow members now credit him as the driving force behind their comeback.

"Tae Woo was the most aggressive about getting us back together," Son Ho Young said. "He really led the charge."

Danny Ahn acknowledged the irony of their group dynamics: "Joon hyung might be the oldest and official leader, but Tae Woo is the real leader. He tracked down each member individually and kept pushing us to reunite."

But Kim's vision went far beyond a simple reunion concert. While his bandmates feared they couldn't even fill a small venue, he was thinking stadium-scale.

"You're Crazy": When Nobody Believed

The skepticism was intense. Danny Ahn admitted he initially doubted the entire plan would work, worried that failure might tarnish their legacy.

"I kept saying 'It'll work if we stick together,'" Kim Tae Woo recalled. "But when I suggested we should book a 15,000-seat venue, they thought that was way too ambitious after so much time away."

Then Kim went even bigger. He proposed touring Korea's five major stadiums with six shows at 40,000-seat capacity each.

"All four of them told me I'd lost my mind," he laughed.

The members eventually compromised on two shows at the 15,000-seat Jamsil Auxiliary Stadium. Kim Tae Woo's confidence never wavered.

"I believed in the power of our music-songs that touched people's lives," he said. "When tickets went on sale, all 30,000 seats sold out in 30 minutes."

Even after proving himself right, Kim continued pushing for bigger venues as the reunion tour expanded. His bandmates kept resisting.

When asked if they finally trust his judgment now, Son Ho Young joked: "Not at all. We're still arguing with him about venue sizes."

Bringing Back Yoon Kye Sang

Getting the actor-turned-member back proved particularly challenging. Kim Tae Woo contacted him every single year, persistently asking him to rejoin.

During g.o.d's December 2022 appearance on "You Quiz on the Block," Yoon Kye Sang explained what had kept him away and what eventually brought him back.

"When we split up, misunderstandings developed between us. We were so close that we assumed everyone understood everything without saying it directly. All those unspoken assumptions piled up and created distance. My own stubbornness made things uncomfortable for a while."

But he emphasized the other members never held grudges: "They kept reaching out, kept extending their hands. That's what made the reunion possible. It made me incredibly happy."

Comeback Success Vindicated Kim's Faith

G.o.d's reunion album "Chapter 8," released July 8, 2014, immediately dominated Korean music charts. The record won Album of the Year at the 2014 Melon Music Awards, one of Korea's four major music award ceremonies.

Their 15th anniversary tour kicked off July 12, 2014 at Jamsil Sports Complex with about 14,000 fans watching their first performance as a complete five-member group in 12 years. Due to overwhelming demand, they added eight more dates across four cities.

The tour's finale came in October 2014-at the 40,000-seat Seoul Olympic Stadium, exactly as Kim Tae Woo had originally envisioned. It was their second time selling out Korea's largest venue.

Since reuniting, g.o.d has performed annually except for 2016 (solo activities) and 2020-2021 (COVID-19 pandemic). Their consistent ability to sell out major venues without heavy promotion has earned them recognition as domestic "box office powerhouses."

The group, which debuted in January 1999, sold over 5.2 million albums during their initial run and became known as one of Korea's "nation's groups." Their comeback proved that Kim Tae Woo's seemingly crazy dream was actually perfect vision.