We reveal who’s behind this extravagant character…
We had been waiting for it for a long time, and it’s finally here. The second season of the South Korean Netflix phenomenon Squid Game plunges us once again into a ruthless universe where life and death are at stake every moment. This time, a new player in the chaos makes an appearance: Thanos. Played by T.O.P. (Choi Seung-hyun), a K-pop legend, this character brings an electric energy to this spiral of violence and manipulation, enhancing the dramatic intensity of the series. But who is the man behind this extravagant character? This is Riviera sheds light on the subject.
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What is Thanos in Squid Game worth?
Indeed, one of the most captivating characters in the second season of Squid Game draws inspiration from the iconic Thanos of the Marvel Universe. However, the Thanos of this season, who wears player number 230, differs from his cinematic counterpart, played by Josh Brolin, in a very different way. His nickname, far from evoking a cosmic threat, is a result of his rapping talents, which he proudly describes as capable of “killing half of the people on the planet.” This unique character enters the game after losing everything in a cryptocurrency scam orchestrated by the financial YouTuber “Amazing Myung-gi” (Yim Si-wan), another participant in the games.
Who is Choi Seung-Hyun, aka T.O.P.?
Choi Seung-Hyun, born November 4, 1987, in Seoul, is mainly recognized as one of the rappers of the group BigBang.
His career in music and his “Big” complex…
According to his Wikipedia page, Choi Seung-Hyun began his rap career in the subway and was a childhood friend of G-Dragon. The two were neighbors and spent their time rapping together at school, but they lost touch when G-Dragon moved. During his adolescence, Choi was part of the duo Tempo and recorded the song Buckwild with NBK Gray. In 2003, he won the Rap Battle competition on the KBS radio show.
When YG Entertainment was looking for talents to form BIGBANG, G-Dragon contacted Choi, and together they sent several demos to Yang Hyun-suk, the CEO of the label. Although Choi was initially rejected during the audition because of his appearance, which did not match the idol image, he lost weight and retook the audition six months later, which allowed him to sign with the label. He had missed several performances due to his insecurities about his appearance. During his training period, he received little training compared to the other members of the group, as his rap skills were deemed exceptional. However, he had to work intensively on his dance skills, as he struggled to memorize choreographies. In 2023, after his contract ended, he officially left BigBang. Musically, he has one album and several singles.
His career in cinema
It should be noted that this role in the second season of Squid Game marks T.O.P.’s big return to acting after a seven-year absence, with his last appearance dating back to 2017 in the German-Chinese thriller Out of Control. Before that, his performances had been widely praised, earning him the Best New Actor award at the Blue Dragon Film Awards in 2010 and the Baeksang Arts Awards in 2011, thanks to his role in the Korean war film 71: Into the Fire. During his career, T.O.P. has appeared in 7 films, 5 television series, and 4 TV shows.
His relationship with drugs and his overdose…
The character of Thanos in Squid Game makes a significant reference to drugs, an allusion that resonates with T.O.P.’s past. In 2018, while doing his mandatory military service, the former K-pop star caused an uproar in South Korea due to his marijuana consumption. A few days after the revelation of the incident, Choi Seung-hyun overdosed on benzodiazepines but was quickly treated by doctors. The rapper had to issue a public apology for his behavior and was sentenced to ten months in prison, with a two-year suspended sentence. Additionally, he was discharged from his military duties and distanced himself from social media and the entertainment industry, according to the BBC. Released in 2019, T.O.P. relaunched his music career, both solo and within BigBang, a group he claims to have left in 2022.
Private life and relationship rumors
T.O.P. is currently rumored to be single, although neither he nor his agency have confirmed any information regarding his love life. However, rumors of a relationship have circulated in the past, notably according to LifeStyleAsia with Krystal Jung, the actress from The Heirs. These speculations began ten years ago, after similar photos of the two, taken weeks apart in Seoul, were shared online. Although they were seen together at several events in 2013, and reports suggested they had lived together, no confirmation was given, and the rumors eventually faded. Krystal later dated Kai from EXO in 2016.
T.O.P. was also linked to Shin Min-ah in 2008, after photos of them entering and leaving the same place were circulated online, fueling rumors of an engagement. However, these rumors were denied by their respective agencies, who called them “ridiculous.”
In 2020, rumors also connected T.O.P. to actress Kim Ga-bin, mainly fueled by photos showing the rapper and the actress together, especially at events where they seemed to exchange “couple” items and wear similar clothes. YG Entertainment refused to confirm these rumors, emphasizing the difficulty of commenting on the private lives of its artists.
