Source: Chosun Ilbo
Former Big Bang member T.O.P (Choi Seung-hyun) made an appearance in Korea.
On June 28, Netflix 'Squid Game' held a Season 3 global finale event at the Seoul Plaza. TOP attended the event making it his first official public appearance in Korea since receiving a suspended prison sentence in 2017 for marijuana use.
T.O.P, who had a significant role in Squid Game Season 2 as a retired drug-addicted rapper, did not appear in Season 3. When asked if he had regrets about not being in the new season, he replied,"I did all the bad things I wanted in Season 2 and received my punishment. I have no lingering attachment to Season 3.”
He expressed gratitude to director Hwang Dong-hyuk, saying, "I’m truly thankful to have been part of such a great project. I learned a lot.”
T.O.P’s return comes eight years after his conviction for violating South Korea’s Narcotics Control Act. In 2016, he smoked marijuana at his Yongsan home. In 2017, he was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for 2 years. The verdict became final after neither prosecutors nor defense appealed. A suspended sentence leaves a criminal record that remains for 7 years.
Earlier this year, in an interview, T.O.P directly addressed his past stating, "I still feel deeply ashamed and believe I must live with this regret for life. I sincerely apologize again. If there’s anywhere that would have me, I’ll give my all in any field."
Prior to the Seoul event, T.O.P also appeared at the U.S. Squid Game fan event on June 1. There, he joked, "You might be surprised to see me here, but how could I miss such an amazing event?"
T.O.P’s reappearance is drawing attention as he reengages with the entertainment world, this time as part of Netflix’s global franchise.
- [+1,668, -23] They bashed Lee Kyung-kyu for taking prescription meds for panic disorder and called it drugged driving, but now this reporter, Park Sun-min, is promoting T.O.P who actually did drugs? Stop with these biased articles!!
- [+463, -12] Can we please stop with articles about thugs like T.O.P and Seungri...
- [+151, -9] He looks different from when he was in Squid Game... creepy.
- [+118, -15] It’s hilarious. Not long ago, he was cursing out Koreans and calling them weird, and now that he’s getting paid, he’s suddenly all about love? Pathetic.
- [+55, -3] This kind of quiet crawling out is exactly why drug trafficking is spreading wildly through drop techniques in Korea. Kick him out of the entertainment industry immediately! I'm scared kids might see this and follow.
- [+41, -4] The president himself is a four-time offender who blocks drug investigations, so what can you expect...
- [+35, -0] He still looks like a druggie who's actively using. There’s no way he quit.
- [+24, -5] I mean, we live in a country where even someone with five juvenile offenses can become president. Who needs moral standards? He struggled for eight years, I hope he does well now.
- [+13, -1] Reinvestigate Burning Sun!! Use Taxi Driver 2 as reference.
- [+18, -8] The current government is pushing K-culture promotions, but this kind of indiscriminate return of celebrities could lead to a complete collapse of moral standards in the entertainment industry!
- [+10, -2] In the U.S, druggies get life sentences with full terms.. Korea needs to do the same that way people get too scared to inject drugs!!