T.O.P’s First Interview in 11 Years: Will He Address the Drug Scandal, BigBang Exit, and Acting Criticism in Squid Game 2?

Former BigBang member T.O.P (Choi Seung-hyun) is set to speak publicly about the controversies surrounding him for the first time in years.

This marks his first official appearance in eight years since his 2017 drug conviction and his first interview in 11 years, following the release of the film Tazza: The Hidden Card in 2014. Netflix announced that T.O.P will conduct an official interview on January 15 in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

The interview will take place over five sessions from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., during which T.O.P is expected to share his thoughts on joining Squid Game 2, address recent acting criticism, and explain his decision to return to the Korean entertainment industry after previously stating he had no plans to do so.

Squid Game 2 marks T.O.P’s return to acting after nearly a decade. In the series, which premiered on December 26, 2024, he plays Thanos, a former hip-hop competition runner-up turned game participant after incurring debts from failed cryptocurrency investments. His character's use of drugs in the show sparked speculation that it was inspired by T.O.P’s real-life past.

However, his performance received widespread criticism for issues with pronunciation, delivery, and expressions. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk acknowledged the backlash, saying, “I cast him with the message of his role in mind, but I didn’t anticipate such severe public criticism. Had I known, I might have delayed the announcement.”

T.O.P was convicted in 2017 for marijuana use during his mandatory police service and was dismissed from his post. He later completed his military duties as a social service worker. He received a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, in his first trial.

In February 2021, T.O.P ended his exclusive contract with YG Entertainment, officially left BigBang, and announced his retirement from the entertainment industry. Due to ongoing controversies, he was excluded from promotional activities for Squid Game 2, including the press conference and global showcase.

The January 15 interview is expected to shed light on T.O.P’s return to the spotlight and his perspective on the controversies that have shaped his career.