T.O.P (real name Choi Seung-hyun), a singer and actor from the group Big Bang, made a glamorous comeback with the ‘Squid Game’ series after the marijuana controversy.
On the afternoon of the 28th, T.O.P attended the Netflix ‘Squid Game 3’ finale event held at Seoul Plaza in front of the Seoul City Hall.
This marks his first official public appearance in South Korea in eight years since the marijuana scandal in 2017. At that time, T.O.P was sentenced to 10 months in prison with a 2-year probation for allegedly smoking marijuana.
After halting his activities, he resumed acting in December of last year, playing the role of ‘Thanos’, a retired drug-addicted rapper, in ‘Squid Game 2’, and has now appeared in front of the public through promotional events for ‘Season 3’.
On stage that day, T.O.P was joined by fellow ‘Squid Game’ cast members Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Park Hae-soo, Im Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, and Jung Ho-yeon.
When asked if he felt disappointed about not appearing in ‘Season 3’, T.O.P replied, “I did a lot of bad things without regrets in ‘Season 2’ and was punished, so I have no lingering feelings.”
He added, “I am very grateful to work with director Hwang Dong-hyuk on such a great project, and I have learned a lot.”
Earlier, in an interview with the media in January, T.O.P stated regarding his marijuana conviction, “I think it’s more important to receive forgiveness from the Korean public first. I am trying to think as healthily as possible and want to become a solid young man. I have a desire to live a more stable life.”
Director Hwang Dong-hyuk mentioned in a media interview on the 30th, “It’s been a long time since Choi Seung-hyun has done external activities, so he was still very nervous and burdened. The response to the character Thanos, played by Choi Seung-hyun in Season 2, was very hot overseas, and every time he went, the reactions were enthusiastic. I think he gained courage from that and was able to finish.”
He continued, “(Choi Seung-hyun) always says ‘thank you’ to me. He expresses his gratitude to the point where it feels a bit burdensome. I didn’t cast him to save him. I just thought, ‘It should be okay since he has rested enough,’ and that’s how this situation came about. Choi Seung-hyun expressed the strange Thanos I wanted to portray very well. So it’s not something I should be thankful for.”
He added, “Since he has finally revealed himself to the public again and has been given this opportunity, I hope he works hard to show a good side and resolve any remaining resentment.”
Meanwhile, according to the online content service ranking site Flix Patrol, ‘Squid Game 3’ ranked first in the Netflix TV show category for two consecutive days as of the previous day. It topped the charts in all 93 countries where Flix Patrol compiles rankings, including the United States and the United Kingdom.
However, the evaluations were mixed. The Tomato Index, calculated based on scores given by critics on the American film and drama rating site Rotten Tomatoes, was 83%, but the audience score, known as the Popcorn Index, was only 51%. This is a figure that contrasts with Season 1, which had a Tomato Index of 95% and a Popcorn Index of 84%, receiving acclaim from both critics and the public, marking the lowest score in the series.
