McDonald’s has partnered with K-pop icon G-Dragon for a major new campaign that brings Korean-inspired flavors to 13 markets across Asia. The collaboration, planned and led by McDonald’s Korea, features a specially developed Gochujang Butter Sauce and two new chicken burgers. The rollout begins on September 17, 2026, in South Korea, Hong Kong, and the Philippines, with more markets following through November 15, 2026.
Campaign Details and the New Gochujang Butter Menu
McDonald’s Korea announced the campaign on September 9, 2026, confirming G-Dragon as the face of the initiative. The campaign centers on a Gochujang Butter Sauce created by the McDonald’s Korea team. This sauce blends traditional Korean fermented red chili paste with butter, softening the heat while keeping a savory, mildly sweet finish.
South Korea is the first market to launch the new menu items on September 17. Two burgers are available:
- McCrispy Gochujang Butter – a crispy chicken fillet topped with gochujang butter sauce and Colby Jack cheese
- McSpicy Gochujang Butter – a spicy chicken patty with the same sauce and cheese
Both burgers combine different chicken patties with the sauce, offering a balance of spicy and savory flavors. The gochujang butter sauce is also sold separately as a dipping sauce in Korea.
The campaign is officially named the “Asia Chicken Campaign” and was first announced by McDonald’s Vietnam on September 9, 2026. All 13 participating markets will use the gochujang butter sauce developed by McDonald’s Korea as a key motif, with some markets including the word “gochujang” directly in their menu names.
Asian Market Rollout Schedule
The campaign rolls out sequentially across Asia. Here is the confirmed schedule by market:
- September 17, 2026: South Korea, Hong Kong, Philippines
- September 18, 2026: India (Delhi)
- September 21, 2026: Thailand
- September 23, 2026: Taiwan
- September 24, 2026: Vietnam
- October 1, 2026: Singapore
- October 26, 2026: Brunei
- November 5, 2026: Malaysia
- November 7, 2026: Indonesia
- November 15, 2026: India (Mumbai)
The campaign runs until November 15, 2026. China’s mainland market is not part of this rollout, and Japan is also not included in the list, which has led to disappointment among fans in those regions.
In Vietnam, the campaign officially launched on September 9, 2026, with customers able to purchase the Combo K-Spicy Special from September 24 to November 3, 2026, which includes access to special campaign items.
PEACEMINUSONE Merchandise Lineup
A limited-edition merchandise collection created with PEACEMINUSONE, G-Dragon’s fashion brand, is set to launch alongside the menu. McDonald’s Korea stated the items will reflect the identities of both brands and allow customers to continue enjoying the campaign in their daily lives.
Leaked images circulating on social media show three main items:
- A retro cap in McDonald’s red and yellow colors, inspired by the military-style hat G-Dragon wore in his “Too Bad” music video
- A tote bag featuring the McDonald’s “M” logo and PEACEMINUSONE branding
- A set of three metal badges, including the PEACEMINUSONE daisy with a missing petal, an MCD heart logo, and a French fries design that references the missing-petal motif
The merchandise is expected to be available for purchase with any combo meal, with a limit of four items per person per transaction. Official details on pricing and availability are still pending in most markets.
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G-Dragon’s Role and the Campaign Ad
G-Dragon appears in the campaign’s promotional video, which was released in full on September 14, 2026. The ad shows him sitting beside Ronald McDonald, scrolling on his phone, and later driving to a McDonald’s drive-thru to pick up an order. A McDonald’s employee is visibly shocked upon recognizing him. G-Dragon also wears a McDonald’s-branded hat and shows off a heart shape made with Chicken McNuggets.
The background music for the ad is sung by G-Dragon himself. His laid-back vocals weave the classic “I’m lovin’ it” slogan into the song’s lyrics. The promotional video surpassed 4 million views shortly after release, generating significant buzz across social media.
Fans reacted strongly to the collaboration. Comments on social media included praise for the ad’s production quality, with some calling it “the best-looking McDonald’s ad ever” and joking that G-Dragon “makes McDonald’s look like a Michelin restaurant.”
A McDonald’s Korea representative stated:
“Through the special collaboration between McDonald’s and G-Dragon, we hope customers across Asia can enjoy the Korean wave and experience McDonald’s own ‘Feel Good Moments.’”
The campaign marks G-Dragon’s first partnership with a fast-food brand. He continues to build on his work as a solo artist and as the leader of BIGBANG, whose recent release “BiiiG” was also noted by media covering the campaign.
Also Read: 40th Golden Disc Awards Winners: Stray Kids, G-Dragon, and Jennie Claim Top Honors
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