After eight years away from the Korean press, rapper and actor Choi Seung Hyun, better known as T.O.P from Big Bang, made a notable public appearance at the promotional event for Netflix’s final season of Squid Game. His re-emergence comes after a lengthy hiatus following his 2017 drug conviction, which had cast a long shadow over his career.
T.O.P joined the cast and director Hwang Dong Hyuk on June 28 alongside a lineup of actors from the show’s three seasons. Having played the character “Thanos,” a rapper with a drug problem, in Season 2, T.O.P expressed gratitude for the role, saying he learned a lot through the project. His return, however, has stirred a range of reactions—especially given Korea’s sensitive stance on celebrities with past legal issues.
Korean Reactions: Unforgiving and Critical
Korean netizens largely reacted negatively to T.O.P’s reappearance in the media spotlight. Comments reflected skepticism, disappointment, and frustration over the entertainment industry’s tendency to reinstate celebrities with controversial pasts.
Top Korean Comments (Source : Nate)
“He looks really old now. Almost unrecognizable.” (👍 1,049 / 👎 35)
“His cheeks are sunken. He’s changed so much.” (👍 903 / 👎 35)
“He peaked during the Big Bang era.” (👍 682 / 👎 36)
“I can’t stand him. What’s wrong with the director for casting him?” (👍 73 / 👎 16)
“Let’s stop putting problematic celebrities on air. We have plenty of talent.” (👍 70 / 👎 16)
“Honestly, your acting was awkward and unnatural.” (👍 60 / 👎 11)
“Why even bring him back? He was barely a cameo in Season 3.” (👍 47 / 👎 4)
“You do drugs, then come back and make money like nothing happened… please go away.” (👍 47 / 👎 8)
Global Reactions: Forgiveness and Support
International audiences painted a starkly different picture. Many global fans showed understanding, even support, pointing fingers at Korean media for their past treatment of the artist. Sympathy, second chances, and hopes for his return to music and acting were recurring themes.
Top Global Comments (Source : allkpop)
“What does T.O.P know about the current scene at this point? He is basically irrelevant in society!!!” (👍 25 / 👎 2)
“T.O.P shouldn’t give the Korean media the time of day after how they treated him. Hoping this leads to a BIGBANG reunion.” (👍 23 / 👎 12)
“And we cheered.” (👍 11)
“He shouldn’t give them the time of day. They treated him horribly. I can’t wait for his music.” (👍 10)
“The problem was K-Netz and Korean media. He made a mistake long ago. Give people second chances.” (👍 8)
“I want to see him in movies again. Hope that international film he starred in gets released.” (👍 7)
“He did not disappoint! Fantastic, Baby! Still loving his acting.” (👍 5)
“Good to see him in front of his accusers (Korean press). He has support globally now.” (👍 2)
Cultural Reflection: Punishment vs Redemption
This case highlights the deep cultural contrast in how celebrities’ past mistakes are judged.
In Korea, public figures are often held to extremely high moral standards. Once disgraced, a return is viewed as a privilege—one that must be earned, if not outright denied. Hence, T.O.P’s re-entry is seen by many as premature or undeserved.
Globally, however, the narrative leans toward redemption and growth. Fans outside of Korea often emphasize personal recovery, artistic merit, and emotional transparency over moral perfection. For many, T.O.P’s return symbolizes resilience.
The cultural clash over T.O.P’s comeback ultimately reveals two very different attitudes: one that prioritizes social consequence, and another that values creative freedom and second chances.