Former BIGBANG memberT.O.Precently gave his first media interviews in eleven years as part of the promotions for Squid Game 2. During these interviews, he spoke candidly about his past drug scandal and its ongoing effects on his life and family.
T.O.P’s Reflection on a Difficult Period
In 2017, T.O.P faced a scandal involving illegal marijuana use, which resulted in a 10-month suspended prison sentence. This incident significantly impacted his career and public image. Reflecting on this period, which occurred when he was in his 30s, T.O.P described it as a “lost time” filled with “shame, self-loathing, and sincere reflection.” He shared:
For me, my 30s were lost time. I went through a lot of shame, self-loathing, and sincere reflection. While making music, I found healing, and I want to share that music with my fans.
The Impact on His Family
The repercussions of the drug scandal have extended to T.O.P’s family as well. He revealed that his parents did not appreciate his character in Squid Game 2, where he plays a rapper with substance abuse issues. Despite the show’s success, his family has found it difficult to celebrate due to the past incident. He explained:
They didn’t like any aspect of that character. They didn’t even say, ‘Good job, Seunghyun.’ I think they still hold back their expressions. Honestly, they can’t be happy yet because I’ve caused them so much pain in the past. I don’t think they can feel joy just yet.
T.O.P also admitted that he is still working on his mental health recovery, but he has found support from his family and friends. He stated:
It’s not perfect, but I believe it has improved a lot and become much stronger. During tough times, my family and friends provided me with comfort.
Despite the challenges, T.O.P expressed optimism about the future. He shared:
I can promise and vow that I won’t make mistakes again. It may seem careless to say this, but I left BIGBANG with a lot of guilt, and fans didn’t understand why, which led to misunderstandings and hurt. Now, I can finally speak openly in this interview, so I don’t think there will be any misunderstandings. I’m confident about saying that.
Looking ahead to his 40s, T.O.P’s goals include living an honest life and achieving stability. He also expressed a desire for a more positive public image, stating:
I just hope that when I wake up in the morning, I don’t see bad articles about me on Naver. The last 10 years have been so noisy.
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