T.O.P Makes Public Appearance at Squid Game Season 3 Event After 8 Years

T.O.P (real name Choi Seung-hyun), a former member of the iconic group BIGBANG, made a notable appearance at the official event for Netflix's original series Squid Game on June 28. This marked his first public engagement in South Korea since receiving a suspended prison sentence for drug use in 2017, a gap of eight years.

The event took place at Seoul Plaza, where T.O.P participated in the fan event celebrating the finale of Squid Game Season 3. Although he did not have a significant role in the recently released season, he played a crucial character in Season 2 as a retired rapper struggling with drug addiction.

When asked if he felt disappointed about not appearing in Season 3, T.O.P responded, "I did plenty of bad things in Season 2 and faced my consequences. I have no regrets about not being in Season 3." He expressed gratitude towards director Hwang Dong-hyuk, stating, "I am very thankful to be part of such a great work. I learned a lot."

T.O.P's last public appearance in South Korea was linked to his legal troubles stemming from a drug-related incident in October 2016, where he was charged with violating drug laws. He was sentenced to ten months in prison, which was suspended for two years, and this record will remain for seven years.

Earlier this year, T.O.P addressed the drug controversy in an interview, expressing his ongoing shame and commitment to reflect on his past actions. He stated, "I am still very embarrassed and believe I should reflect for the rest of my life. I apologize once again. If there are opportunities for me, I will do my best in any field."

Prior to the event in Seoul, T.O.P also attended a Squid Game event in the United States on June 1, where he enthusiastically promoted Season 3, saying, "I might have surprised you by showing up, but I couldn't miss such a wonderful occasion."