Actor Choi Seung-hyun (T.O.P), who returned with the Netflix series 'Squid Game 2', candidly stated about his return to Big Bang, "I have no face to do so."
On the afternoon of the 15th, Choi Seung-hyun conducted an interview for the Netflix series 'Squid Game Season 2' at a cafe located in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. This interview is his first in about 11 years since the movie 'Tazza: The High Rollers'.
Before the official interview began, Choi Seung-hyun expressed, "It's been 11 years since I've done an interview like this. I came out with courage after carefully considering the right timing. I have felt a lot of regret during this time, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share various stories."
Regarding the "regrets," Choi Seung-hyun specifically mentioned, "In my 20s, there were very brilliant and glorious moments, and it is true that I received excessive love, but afterwards, due to my mistakes, I experienced a fall and downfall. The downfall I experienced in life was a path I had never seen before, and I was mentally exhausted within it. It was hard to make rational judgments, everything was negative, and I had a lot of self-hatred. As a result, I made many mistakes due to a lack of judgment. I truly regret and reflect on it a lot," he said, bowing his head.
Choi Seung-hyun enlisted as a police officer in February 2017, but was put on trial for smoking marijuana at his home in 2016, which was revealed during his military service. At that time, he was sentenced to 10 months in prison, 2 years of probation, and a fine of 12 million won, leading to his forced discharge due to a drug conviction.
In the midst of public backlash, Choi Seung-hyun indirectly expressed his intention to retire by replying to a netizen's comment in 2019 that said, "Stay quiet. Don't use Instagram, and don't make a comeback," with "I have no intention of doing so either." Furthermore, in 2020, he stated through an SNS live broadcast, "I will not make a comeback in Korea. I will not make a comeback at all," further fueling retirement rumors.
In this regard, Choi Seung-hyun said, "I think it was in 2020. There were parts of the nuances in my statements during the live broadcast that may have been misunderstood. To be more precise, I was collapsed at that time and had no strength to get up. There was a time when I really wanted to quit everything," and added, "If you misbutton a button once, it continues to go wrong. It is also true that I received misunderstandings that were not misunderstandings. To be honest, I have had so many thoughts since I was discharged from social service, and most of them were self-blame for my mistakes."
Choi Seung-hyun also has a history of blocking fans who tagged his name along with the group Big Bang he was part of. Some have suggested that T.O.P wants to erase Big Bang. In response, Choi Seung-hyun clarified, "I didn't want to erase Big Bang."
"I am a person who has caused irreparable damage to the team 'Big Bang,'" Choi Seung-hyun said. "I have to endure the criticism for my mistakes. It is natural for me to be criticized for what I do alone, but I think Big Bang should not be affected by that. I felt that if I joined Big Bang, the 'label of my mistakes' would follow them, so I said I would leave the team starting in 2020. Time has passed since then, and I still feel nothing but sorry for the Big Bang members," he said. "The reason I participated in Big Bang's 'Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter' was that I thought it would be my last project as (Big Bang). I worked hard on the song," he confessed.
Regarding blocking fans, he said, "I am a person who likes certainty. I left because I felt sorry, and I didn't want to give false hope to fans who want a reunion or are still waiting. Big Bang is actually my very brilliant and beautiful 20s. The members who were with me were precious and felt like family, so for me, Big Bang feels like looking at a photo of a family I have parted with. It was so painful that only those involved would know. Fans who want a reunion or miss the past Big Bang keep tagging me and posting photos, but honestly, it was very painful to see that," he said honestly.
He continued, "If there hadn't been any incidents, it might not have been that way. It was never to erase Big Bang or to hurt the members. (Blocking fans) came from a painful place, like looking at a photo of a family I have parted with. I think that part has spread as a misunderstanding."
When asked if he is in contact with the Big Bang members, Choi Seung-hyun replied, "I think I will live with a feeling of regret for the rest of my life. To be honest, I haven't contacted them for a while because I have no face to do so. As the pain of separation passes and time goes by, I think I might contact them again," and added, "To speak honestly, I am still not in contact. However, seeing the members (G-Dragon, Taeyang, Daesung) standing on stage so wonderfully made me feel proud yet also very sorry. I truly only have supportive feelings."
Regarding his willingness to rejoin Big Bang, he answered 'NO'. Choi Seung-hyun explained, "The mistakes I made are too big. As you know, I have been stagnant for '10 years', and during that time, I have thought a lot. I have no face, and it has been too long to return," explaining the reasons he cannot go back. When asked if he would consider returning even if the Big Bang members said it was okay, Choi Seung-hyun firmly stated, "No, I have no face."
[Geum Bit-na, MK Sports Reporter]
