"I have become much stronger mentally compared to the past"
"From now on, I will live more uprightly than anyone else"
Actor T.O.P (real name Choi Seung-hyun), who left the group Big Bang and halted his activities amid controversies including marijuana smoking, gave an interview for the first time in 11 years.
On the morning of the 15th, T.O.P met with reporters at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and conducted an interview related to the Netflix original series 'Squid Game' Season 2. He said, "This kind of interview is the first in 11 years," adding, "I pondered the right timing and with a truly cautious heart, I mustered the courage to come forward like this."
Previously, T.O.P was cast as Thanos, a drug-addicted rapper who lost all his assets due to failed coin investments and joined the game in 'Squid Game 2.' However, from the casting process, he faced criticism. There were reactions demanding the removal of an actor who had caused social controversies.
Reflecting on the public's reaction at the time, T.O.P said, "I honestly felt broken, as if my presence was causing harm to a great work once again." He continued, "I considered withdrawing from the project, but the director instilled confidence in me," and added, "As an actor, I thought the way to repay that trust was to carry it through responsibly until the end, so I gathered my resolve."
'Squid Game 2' was reportedly the first and only script offered to him since the marijuana smoking allegations surfaced in 2017. T.O.P said, "Thanos is a character who has to face many parts of my shameful past, so I had many concerns," and "I hesitated because taking on this role meant my image would be permanently fixed worldwide." He added, "I found courage thanks to the director’s grateful heart who saw me when no one else did."
Regarding his past, T.O.P said, "It was a path of downfall I had never been on before, so I think I was in darkness," and "I had a strong self-loathing and my judgment was clouded, which led to frequent mistakes." He continued, "Compared to then, I am mentally much stronger now, and with the desire to show a healthy side, I courageously came to this interview today," adding, "From now on, I will live more uprightly than anyone else."
T.O.P revealed that he plans to continue his activities as a singer and actor. He said, "I have been going back and forth between home and my studio, focusing on music work," and added, "I have created a lot of music that I want to listen to, but since today is a moment to offer an apology, I can only say this much." He also said, "During my brilliant and glorious twenties, I received excessive love, but then I fell due to my own mistakes," emphasizing, "The past years were like hell, but I don’t think that time was wasted. I believe it was a time I had to go through, and my goal is to become an actor who can better express the emotions I felt then." T.O.P, who said he is not in contact with the Big Bang members, mentioned, "My heart has calmed down a bit, so I think I will be able to reach out."
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