Korean singer T.O.P held his first media interview in 11 years and talked about his role in the hit Netflix series “Squid Game” season 2, his departure from K-pop group Big Bang and his plans.
T.O.P (real name Choi Seung-hyun) plays the role of player No. 230 Thanos, a rapper and drug user.
In July 2017, the Seoul Central District Court found T.O.P guilty on charges of smoking marijuana and sentenced him to 10 months in prison suspended for two years. He left Big Bang.
On Jan. 15, T.O.P, 37, held an interview with Korean media to talk about “Squid Game” season 2 and his career.
He said the role of Thanos “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, reported the Korea Times and Korea JoongAng Daily.
T.O.P (Netflix/The Seed)
T.O.P as Thanos in "Squid Game" season 2 (Netflix/The Seed)
He said, “I hesitated to accept the role of Thanos because I had to face many aspects of my own disgraceful history, and I was worried that the mistakes from my past would forever be embedded into who I am. However, I saw this as a price I had to pay and considered it as my fate.”
“Since this is my first interview in 11 years, I put a lot of thought into seeking the right timing and approached it carefully with a heavy heart,” T.O.P added.
Thanos
To prepare for his role as Thanos, T.O.P researched on the drugs that the character used in “Squid Game” season 2.
“The drug that Thanos uses in the series is extremely potent, so I researched the effects of such substances while developing the character. I tried to act differently in scenes where Thanos had not yet used the drug versus those where he had,“ he said.
“There were moments during filming, especially in scenes where Thanos takes unidentified drugs, that forced me to face uncomfortable emotions, and it was mentally demanding. Still, I viewed it as my responsibility to overcome these feelings,” he explained.
When Netflix announced that T.O.P would be in “Squid Game” season 2, it drew varied reactions from the public.
Fans also had mixed reactions to his acting in “Squid Game” season 2. Some fans praised T.O.P for his portrayal of Thanos.
“Acting and characters are subjective matters of taste, and as an actor, I have to accept both praise and criticism,” T.O.P said.
Departure from Big Bang
T.O.P debuted in Big Bang in 2006 and confirmed his departure from the group in 2023.
“I didn’t want my mistakes to harm the team’s reputation,” he said about his decision to leave Big Bang.
He added, ““Five years have passed since I told the media that I would not rejoin Big Bang, and ‘Still Life’ (2022) was my last project with them, a farewell for the fans and everyone."
T.O.P said he will release new music soon.
“I was alienated from society, trapped in guilt and self-loathing, moving between my house and the music studio. Making music gave me a sense of relief and pulled me out of the darkness. Although the release date isn’t set, I plan to share new music soon,” he said.
He is envisioning a quiet life in his 40s.
"My primary goal is to establish a stable and less dramatic life. I want to reach a point where I can wake up without being bombarded by negative news and feel more at peace," he said.