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

K-pop star TOP returns thanks Squid game.

In July 2017, Choi Seung-hyun, who made his mark as TOP in the mega-hit K-pop band BIGBANG, received a 10-month prison sentence and a two-year suspension from military service after being found guilty of using marijuana, an illegal substance in South Korea, according to a Korean newspaper, Yonhap.

After the scandal, the rapper and actor was kicked out of the Korean entertainment industry until his last appearance in the Squid game season 2 as Thanos, a famous rapper turned weirdo 230 player who uses drugs while competing in death games.

Choi Seung-hyun aka TOP in ‘Squid Game’ Season 2.

Netflix

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In an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE, Squid game Director Hwang Dong-hyuk opens up about his decision to cast the controversial actor and admits he was blown away by his performance in the K-drama series.

“As you may know, actor Seung-hyun was involved in a marijuana scandal in Korea about nine years ago and has not been able to do any projects for the past nine years in Korea,” he explains. “It’s a comeback after quite a long break, especially because he’s playing a character who’s a rapper and also someone who does drugs.”

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

Choi Seung-hyun (second right) performs as TOP with BIGBANG.

Han Myung-Gu/WireImage

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“Despite the long hiatus, I must say that he has been very impressive as a director and I am very pleased with what he has done with the character,” he adds.

Following the indictment against Choi on June 5, 2017, he posted a handwritten apology to his fans on his agency YG Entertainment’s website.

“First of all, I would like to extend my sincere apologies to many of you for causing great disappointment and distress,” he wrote, according to Korean Herald. “I feel so ashamed that I can’t appear in front of you to apologize.”

“I have no excuses and I deserve any punishment. I feel great regret and fear that I have left an irreparable scar in the hearts of everyone, including our members, my agency, friends and family. I will reflect on my wrong actions again and again,” the media reported. “Once again, I apologize for not being able to apologize to everyone in person.”

Choi Seung-hyun.

Han Myung-Gu/WireImage

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

At that time, YG Entertainment shared a newspaper article by the author Sports Chosun on their website, reporting that he had regained consciousness and had been transferred to another hospital where he was receiving psychiatric care.

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

“I’m really sorry to disappoint my fans and the public. I will do my best to start over and not make that mistake again with what I learned from this lesson,” he told reporters at the time, according to Yonhap.

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2nd season Squid game can be streamed in its entirety on Netflix.

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

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Source: HIS Education