‘Squid Game Season 2’ Shocking Casting… Controversy Surrounds T.O.P’s Joining after Leaving Big Bang

‘Squid Game Season 2’ will feature T.O.P (Choi Seung-hyun), who departed from the group Big Bang. In addition, actors Park Gyu-young, Jo Yoo-ri, Kang Ae-sim, Lee Da-wit, Lee Jin-wook, No Jae-won, and Won Ji-an have also been included in the lineup. Provided by Netflix. Netflix original series ‘Squid Game Season 2’ will see T.O.P, who left the group Big Bang, joining the cast. On the 29th, Netflix officially unveiled the casting lineup for ‘Squid Game Season 2’, along with the phrase “The game begins again.” With new faces including T.O.P, Park Gyu-young, Jo Yoo-ri, Lee Jin-wook, Lee Da-wit, Kang Ae-sim, No Jae-won, and Won Ji-an were announced.

The decision to cast T.O.P, from the former group Big Bang, is expected to be controversial. While he has previous acting experience, appearing in films such as ‘Tazza: The Hidden Card’ (2014) and ‘Commitment’ (2013) under his real name, Choi Seung-hyun, he faced prosecution in 2017 for marijuana use and received a suspended sentence, effectively putting his entertainment career on hold.

In 2020, through his live broadcasts, he hinted at not planning a comeback in Korea, stating, “I’m always sorry to my fans. I won’t be making a comeback in Korea.” Recently, when asked by a fan on social media if he had left Big Bang, he emphasized, “I already said that I’m leaving (the group Big Bang)” and expressed that he is facing a new chapter in his life, and he also ended his exclusive contract with YG Entertainment in February. However, he did share news about working on his solo album recently. With controversies surrounding his retirement reversal and marijuana use, his inclusion in the highly anticipated ‘Squid Game Season 2’ lineup has sparked heated debates online.

On another note, following her appearance in ‘Sweet Home,’ actress Park Gyu-young, and Jo Yoo-ri, who debuted as a member of the group IZ*ONE and has been expanding her acting career, as well as Lee Jin-wook from ‘Sweet Home,’ Kang Ae-sim with a wide spectrum of works including movies, theater, and musicals, have joined the cast. Actors Lee Da-wit, No Jae-won, and Won Ji-an have also been included in the lineup. Previously, on the 17th, Netflix announced the main casting lineup for ‘Squid Game Season 2’. The fact that Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-jun, and Gong Yoo, who were active in Season 1, were joined by new cast members Im Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Sung-hoon, and Yang Dong-geun garnered attention. ‘Squid Game’ Season 2′ is set to begin filming in the second half of this year.