Former BIGBANG member T.O.P plays Thanos, a washed-up rapper, in "Squid Game" Season 2 released on Dec. 26. Courtesy of Netflix
Former BIGBANG member T.O.P (Choi Seung-hyun) will hold an interview with a group of reporters for "Squid Game" Season 2, marking a shift from his previous absence from promotional events such as press conferences and showcases.
Netflix's "Squid Game" team distributed an official statement Friday, announcing T.O.P's upcoming interview. Scheduled for Jan. 15, the interview will take place at a cafe in Seoul with domestic reporters.
T.O.P's casting in Season 2, which was released on Dec. 26, sparked controversy. Accusations arose suggesting he was cast due to connections with stars Lee Jung-jae and Lee Byung-hun, who denied the claims.
Having previously been sentenced to 10 months in prison with a two-year suspended sentence for marijuana use in 2017, T.O.P had announced his retirement from the entertainment industry but made his comeback with this project.
In the series, T.O.P plays the villain rapper Thanos. However, his performance received significant criticism, with many pointing out his lackluster acting.
Amid chilly domestic public opinion, T.O.P skipped key promotional events, including the press conference, global showcase, and international award ceremonies.
T.O.P as villain rapper Thanos in the "Squid Game" Season 2 / Courtesy of Netflix
The overseas reaction to T.O.P's appearance in Season 2 has been different from that in South Korea. International netizens took to social media, sharing opinions such as "T.O.P is facing excessive criticism in Korea" and "The Korean entertainment industry imposes unreasonable moral standards on T.O.P."
T.O.P's upcoming interview marks his first in 11 years since the release of the 2014 film "Tazza: The Hidden Card."
He is expected to discuss the casting process for the "Squid Game" Season 2, the truth behind his retirement statements and his future plans.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.