T.O.P Expresses Embarrassment Filming Drug Scenes, Apologizes to Lee Byung-hun and Lee Jung-jae

On the morning of January 14, actor T.O.P sat down for an interview at a café in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul to discuss his role in Netflix’s original series “Squid Game 2”.

Rumors claimed that T.O.P’s inclusion in “Squid Game 2” was due to recommendations from Lee Jung-jae and Lee Byung-hun, sparking a wave of backlash. Both senior actors denied the allegations “Casting is outside an actor’s jurisdiction”, and director Hwang Dong-hyuk emphasizing that T.O.P’s casting came after recognizing his potential through multiple auditions.

The announcement of T.O.P’s role reignited criticism of his past legal issues and his controversial statements about retiring from the Korean entertainment industry. Following the show’s release, discussions about his performance further fueled the debate.

Regarding this, T.O.P clarified, “The casting process involved auditions, and it was not influenced by recommendations from senior actors. I felt deeply apologetic that their names were dragged into the controversy, and it left me emotionally overwhelmed. I even considered stepping down from the role. However, I believed it was my duty to repay the trust that Director Hwang Dong-hyuk showed me during the process of designing the character together.”

Regarding his interactions with Lee Jung-jae and Lee Byung-hun during filming, T.O.P noted, “There wasn’t anything particularly special. Everyone was so focused on their roles because of the large cast and intense schedule. We all supported each other and worked together to bring the story to life.”

Playing a character who relies on drugs presented a unique challenge for T.O.P. He explained, “Filming scenes where Thanos uses drugs was especially difficult because I had to confront the shadows of my past in front of hundreds of staff and cast members. It was emotionally taxing, but I immersed myself in studying the character.”

To realistically portray Thanos, T.O.P researched the effects of the substances his character consumed. “I read about how certain drugs cause severe dental damage and extreme anxiety or ADHD symptoms when not in use. I worked hard to depict the contrasts in Thanos’s behavior before and after taking the drugs, as well as his increasing desperation.”