Singer-actor Choi Seung-hyun / Courtesy of Netflix
Choi Seung-hyun, also known as former BIGBANG member T.O.P, ended his 11-year silence in an interview with The Korea Times, Wednesday, where he addressed the controversies surrounding his role in "Squid Game" Season 2.
While Netflix's Korean series has enjoyed global popularity, topping charts for three weeks after its release, the singer-turned-actor has faced several controversies over the years. These include his marijuana use during military service, his departure from the iconic K-pop boy band, and his acting performance in "Squid Game" Season 2.
In the series, he plays Thanos, a rapper who joins the game after his career is derailed by drug use and failed cryptocurrency investments, leaving him deeply in debt.
For Choi, the role struck an uncomfortable chord.
"The offer to play Thanos was a daunting proposition. The character mirrored my past, reflecting aspects I'd rather keep hidden. The fear of being pigeonholed into one role made me hesitate. But destiny seemed to be pulling me in this direction," he said during the interview, referring to his own past, including being sentenced to jail time in 2017 for multiple instances of marijuana use.
Unlike other cast members who actively promoted the series garnering attention around the world, the 37-year-old has remained relatively quiet until this interview, where he candidly opened up about these matters. It marked his first official interview since his promotional activities in the 2014 film "Tazza: The Hidden Card."
"For almost 10 years, I felt no one looked at me, but director Hwang Dong-hyuk reached out to me first. The trust (and) the belief he had in me gave me the courage to take this on. As an actor, it is my duty to repay the trust. Excelling in my performance is another assignment in my life," he added.
In preparing for Thanos, T.O.P focused on the complexities of a character heavily reliant on drugs.
“The drug that Thanos uses in the series is extremely potent, so I researched the effects of such substances while developing the character,” he explained.
He discovered that individuals dependent on strong drugs often experience significant dental damage and suffer from intense anxiety and symptoms similar to ADHD when not under the influence.
“I tried to act differently in scenes where Thanos had not yet used the drug versus those where he had,“ he said.
He also infused his performance with physical details, portraying Thanos with damaged teeth and a rhythm that deviated from the norm.
“There's a type of rap style in southern U.S. hip-hop called ‘mumble rap,' often associated with rappers who use powerful stimulants. I tried to channel that in the way Thanos delivers his lines.”
Singer-actor Choi Seung-hyun is seen in Netflix's "Squid Game" Season 2. Courtesy of Netflix
BIGBANG debuted in August 2006 with numerous hits under its belt, such as "Lies," "Haru Haru" and "Bang Bang Bang." It marked the beginning of K-pop's global expansion, but the group went on hiatus after scandal-embroiled member Seungri left in 2019, followed by T.O.P's departure in 2023.
Despite the wishes of fans for a full-group comeback, T.O.P declared his retirement in a February 2020 SNS live broadcast, saying, "I won't be coming back to Korea and I won't make a comeback (to the entertainment industry) at all."
When the news of T.O.P's casting in Netflix's "Squid Game" broke, many questioned why he had reversed his decision to retire.
Choi described his 30s as a period of "lost time," filled with immense shame, self-loathing, and deep introspection.
"For the past seven years, I have lived almost isolated from society, spending most of my time at home and in my music studio. So I just kept working on music in the dark and the reason I did that was not for any other reason, but because music was the only place where I could breathe, when I was composing music and standing in front of the microphone. I think I made music to survive," he said.
"So I wrote a countless number of songs, just by listening to my own dark heart and inner turmoil. I wanted to heal myself through music and I want to share that music with my fans in some way."
After tumultuous years in the entertainment industry, T.O.P envisions a more ordinary life in his 40s, one that mirrors the experiences of any other young man in Korea.
"My primary goal is to establish a stable and less dramatic life," he said.
He further described his vision for a "less dramatic" life, saying, "I want to reach a point where I can wake up without being bombarded by negative news and feel more at peace."