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On January 19, 2025, former BIGBANG member Choi Seung-hyun aka T.O.P gave an interview to MTN News where he addressed the controversy surrounding his decision to block fans who tagged him in posts about a potential BIGBANG reunion.
T.O.P officially announced his departure from BIGBANG in June 2023. This decision was influenced by a series of personal challenges, notably his legal issues in 2017 when he faced trial for mar*juana use—a substance illegal in South Korea.
Reflecting on this period, Choi Seung-hyun expressed deep regret, stating that his actions were a result of not being able to handle the immense fame he received in his 20s, leading to wrong choices.
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He acknowledged the impact of his mistakes on the group, mentioning that he felt he had "no right to stay" in BIGBANG after causing the members to struggle and face public criticism due to his actions.
In August 2024, during the celebration of BIGBANG's 18th anniversary, some fans tagged T.O.P in social media posts commemorating the occasion. In response, the rapper blocked several of these fans, leading to criticism and disappointment within the fan community.
On January 19, 2025, addressing this controversy, T.O.P explained that seeing photos tagged of him and the members on social media, as well as photos from the past, was painful. He emphasized that his decision to block certain accounts was not out of malice but a personal coping mechanism to distance himself from memories that caused him distress.
"First, I want to apologize. Thinking back now, it was such a reckless action and I deeply regret it. I think at the time, it was painful to even see posts mentioning me and the members of BIGBANG together. It was like someone was continuously showing me pictures of my family that I could no longer see with confidence," T.O.P told to MTN.
He added:
"The reason I left BIGBANG was because I didn't want to cause any more damage to the team. I hated the idea that if I kept being mentioned with BIGBANG, the remaining members would have a hard time. I still feel so sorry that I haven't contacted the members even once since I left the team."
"I don't think that will happen" — Squid Game 2 star T.O.P clarifies that he wouldn't reunite with BIGBANG
T.O.P has been candid about his current relationship with the remaining BIGBANG members. In a recent interview, he revealed that he is no longer in contact with them, stating that he felt ashamed to face the other members after his scandal.
He described his time with BIGBANG as a beautiful time but reiterated that his departure was a step he felt necessary to prevent further harm to the group. However, he cleared that there was no scope for him to get back with his old group.
"I don't think that will happen. Considering the public's image of me, BIGBANG and I being together would never help the team. I always cheer for the success of the members of BIGBANG. I recently watched a video of the three of them on stage together. I couldn't tell you how proud I was to see the members still looking great."
Since his departure, T.O.P has focused on personal growth and rebuilding his career. In January 2025, he made a significant return to the entertainment industry by joining the cast of Squid Game 2, portraying a character named Thanos—a troubled K-pop rapper who fell from grace and a drug addict.
This role mirrors some of the former BIGBANG member's past challenges, and the series' director, Hwang Dong-hyuk, commended Choi Seung-hyun's courage and performance, acknowledging the parallels between the actor's personal life and his character. Meanwhile, Choi Seung-hyun told MTN that he was "embarrassed" when he first received the script.
"I received an audition offer through the production company. I was very embarrassed when I saw the character setting written in the script. Thanos was a character who had to face my shameful past, and I thought that if I was not careful, my image could be completely preserved as a 'drug addict'...But once I made up my mind to do it, I wanted to do it properly."
Squid Game 2 is available for global streaming on Netflix.
