T.O.P. Photo from T.O.P's Instagram account

Jaehwa Bernardo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1737020608770Image.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>T.O.P. Photo from T.O.P&#x27;s Instagram accountSouth Korean star Choi Seung-hyun, better known by his stage name T.O.P, has opened up about his departure from the iconic boy band BIGBANG and his role in the second season of the hit survival drama &quot;Squid Game.&quot;</div>Choi recently sat down for his first interview in 11 years with several South Korean media outlets, which published their stories on Thursday.Based on a <a href="https://www.soompi.com/article/1716694wpp/t-o-p-candidly-discusses-past-mistakes-squid-game-2-casting-departure-from-bigbang-and-more">report</a> by Korean entertainment news portal Soompi, one of the topics he discussed was his withdrawal from BIGBANG, which he <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/06/01/23/top-announces-exit-from-k-pop-group-big-bang">announced in 2023</a>.The 37-year-old artist said he still imagines reuniting with his bandmates, whom he debuted with in 2006.&quot;I do imagine it a lot — [situations where] we give each other blessings,&quot; he was quoted as saying in the Soompi story.&quot;Honestly, I just carry a lifelong sense of guilt. I left because I felt I had no right to stay,&quot; he explained. &quot;All I feel is that I’m just deeply sorry.&quot;<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/9/2/bigbang-members-reunite-for-taeyang-s-concert-1159">READ: BIGBANG members reunite for Taeyang&#x27;s concert</a></div>Choi was previously embroiled in a drug use controversy, receiving a jail sentence in 2017 for marijuana use, according to reports. Since then, he has largely stayed out of the public eye.But Choi recently gained attention after taking on a role in &quot;Squid Game,&quot; playing Thanos, a rapper who joins the deadly games after falling for a crypto scam. The character is also portrayed as a drug user, drawing comparisons to Choi&#x27;s own history.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1737020482452Squidgame_Unit_206_NO139230.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>A scene from &#x27;Squid Game&#x27; showing Choi Seung-hyun (formerly the rapper T.O.P) as Thanos. Photo courtesy of NetflixIn the interview, Choi admitted he &quot;had a lot of concerns when I saw the character of Thanos.&quot;</div>&quot;It was because of my past mistakes and the parts where I had to confront my own shame,&quot; he said.&quot;I worried a lot, thinking that my image might become permanently associated with this. But somehow, I felt that being given such a role, almost like it was fate, might have a deeper meaning,&quot; he added.Choi described his 30s as a &quot;lost time,&quot; where he &quot;endured intense shame and self-contempt.&quot;But the artist &quot;found healing through creating music, and I want to share that music with others.&quot;As he nears his 40s, Choi said he hopes &quot;to live as a responsible and stable man, just like any ordinary young person in Korea.&quot;

South Korean star Choi Seung-hyun, better known by his stage name T.O.P, has opened up about his departure from the iconic boy band BIGBANG and his role in the second season of the hit survival drama "Squid Game."

South Korean star Choi Seung-hyun, better known by his stage name T.O.P, has opened up about his departure from the iconic boy band BIGBANG and his role in the second season of the hit survival drama "Squid Game."

T.O.P opens up about leaving BIGBANG, 'Squid Game' casting | ABS-CBN

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T.O.P opens up about leaving BIGBANG, 'Squid Game' casting

T.O.P opens up about leaving BIGBANG, 'Squid Game' casting

Jaehwa Bernardo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 16, 2025 05:59 PM PHT

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K-content

K-pop

Choi Seung-hyun

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Squid Game

Squid Game 2

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T.O.P

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