Squid GameDirector Calls Season 2 a 'Comeback' for K-Pop Star T.O.P. After Marijuana Scandal: 'A Lot of Guts' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

(L) Choi Seung-hyun and Hwang Dong-hyuk.Photo:Han Myung-Gu/WireImage; Amy Sussman/WireImage

Han Myung-Gu/WireImage; Amy Sussman/WireImage

K-pop star T.O.P is making a comeback thanks toSquid Game.

In July 2017, Choi Seung-hyun, who made his mark as T.O.P in mega hit K-pop band BIGBANG, was given a 10-month jail sentence and a two-year suspension from his mandatory military service after he was found guilty of using marijuana, an illegal substance in South Korea, per Korean news outlet,Yonhap.

Choi Seung-hyun aka T.O.P in ‘Squid Game’ season 2.Netflix

Netflix

“As you may know, the actor Seung-hyun, about nine years ago got involved in a marijuana scandal in Korea and wasn’t able to do any projects for the past nine years in Korea,” he explains. “And so this is a comeback after quite a long hiatus, and particularly because he portrays a character that’s a rapper and also someone who is on drugs.”

“I feel that it took him a lot of guts, in a way, to portray a character, especially someone who shares a lot of similarities that are quite negative to him as a person too,” Hwang admits. “So I think it took him a lot of courage to take on that role.”

Choi Seung-hyun (second to right) performs as T.O.P with BIGBANG.Han Myung-Gu/WireImage

Han Myung-Gu/WireImage

“Despite the long hiatus, I have to say, as a director, he performed very impressively and I’m very satisfied with what he did with the character,” he adds.

Upon Choi’s indictment on June 5, 2017, he released a handwritten apology to his fans on his agency YG Entertainment’s website.

“First of all, I would like to extend my sincere apology to many of you for causing huge disappointment and disturbance,” he wrote, per theKorea Herald. “I feel so embarrassed that I can’t show myself in front of you to apologize."

“I have no excuses and deserve any kind of punishment. I feel very regretful and fearful for having left an irreparable scar in everyone’s hearts, including our members, my agency, friends and family. I will reflect on my wrongdoing over and over again," the outlet reported. “Once more, I apologize for not being able to apologize to everyone personally.”

Choi Seung-hyun.Han Myung-Gu/WireImage

Just one day after his indictment, Choi was hospitalized when he was found unconscious after overdosing on prescribed tranquilizers during his mandatory military service, where he was working as a policeman in Seoul.

When he received his sentence in July of that year, Choi addressed the Korean public and issued another apology for his actions.

“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,” he told reporters at the time, according toYonhap.

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Season 2 ofSquid Gamecan be streamed in full on Netflix.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

source: people.com