Reason Behind T.O.P’s Withdrawal From BigBang Explored
K-pop sensation T.O.P confirmed withdrawing from his K-pop group BigBang in 2023. The statement from the singer came six years after his marijuana scandal that shook the Korean music industry. T.O.P. was inducted for using Marijuana in October 2016. The “Bad Boy” crooner admitted his guilt almost a year later. Initially, the court announced a ten-month jail term and two years of suspension as his punishment.
For the unversed, the usage of recreational cannabis remains strictly forbidden by South Korean law. A violation is punishable by up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won or USD 42,556. Along with pleading guilty to the charges, T.O.P also extended an apology to his fans in 2017. He said: “I’m truly sorry that I disappointed my fans and the public. I will do my best to make a fresh start and not to make such a mistake again with what I’ve learned from this lesson.”
"T.O.P First Trial Update: TOP officially bowing and issuing his apology." via _bbmusic pic.twitter.com/R0T5wfGadD
— TOP of the TOP (@TOP_oftheTOP) June 29, 2017
T.O.P Makes a Fresh Start in 2023
The days of BigBang might be over for T.O.P aka Choi Seunghyun, but the K-drama star is not quitting making music altogether. The 37-year-old singer told fans via Instagram in 2023, “I’ve already told you guys that I’m leaving (BigBang), and I’m now facing a new chapter in my life since last year.”
T.O.P’s new chapter is more colorful than ever as he bagged a notorious role in Netflix’s biggest hit show in history, Squid Game. The singer acted as rapper Thanos, who was unmoved by any cruelty around him at the heart of the game. Thanos’s quirky traits include his rapping nature in the middle of a conversation. The character could not survive season 2, so fans will not see him return for the penultimate season of Squid Game, slated for 2025 release.
While T.O.P will not return to the next season, his acting has garnered praise from fans and Emmy-winning actor Lee Jung Jae. The Squid Game hero said in a recent interview: “The friend worked hard on the set. The director gave all the actors detailed directions. Since he is a creator and a writer, he said that he wrote the script with this feeling. I also had a lot of conversations with Choi Seunghyun.
It is inevitable that there is a difference in reaction depending on what kind of performance the actor performed. The same goes for me. I think that’s something that the actor has to endure.”
