The new poster for Squid Game Season 2 has fans talking, especially because former BIGBANG member-turned-actor Choi Seung Hyun (T.O.P) is missing from the main image.

On December 2, the new poster for the highly anticipated Squid Game Season 2 was shared online, showing the main cast led by Lee Jung Jae, along with other key actors.

However, Choi Seung Hyun, who plays a retired idol in the series, was notably absent from the promotional image.

The poster features newly joined cast members like Im Si Wan, Park Seong Hoon, Kang Ha Neul, Jo Yu Ri, Yang Dong Geun, Kang Ae Shim, and Lee Jin Wook, but fans were quick to notice that T.O.P wasn't included.

This sparked a lot of speculation among fans. Some wondered if his absence was due to him missing the press conference, while others pointed to the recent controversies surrounding him, including the drug scandal.

One fan even speculated that just like in Season 1, where major characters die later in the show, T.O.P's character might meet an early end.

Squid Game Season 2 is set to drop on Netflix on December 26, and fans are eagerly awaiting the release to see what happens next.

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BOYNEXTDOOR, the rising boy group, has been recognized for their growing popularity in Japan, winning an award for their impressive buzz.

On December 4th, Yahoo Japan revealed the winners of the "Yahoo! Search Awards 2024," and BOYNEXTDOOR (Seongho, Riu, Myeongjaehyun, Taesan, Leehan, Unhak) was chosen in the "Next Break" category. They are the only overseas male artists to win this year, marking a significant achievement.

The "Yahoo! Search Awards" ranks individuals, works, and products that have seen a big jump in searches, based on data from Yahoo Japan. Known as a prestigious, nationally recognized award, it holds a lot of weight and is seen as a reliable indicator of local popularity.

The "Next Break" category is for artists who are expected to see a sharp increase in searches, based on last year’s data. Yahoo Japan explained, "BOYNEXTDOOR debuted in Japan with their single 'AND' in July and quickly gained attention at music festivals like 'SUMMER SONIC 2024.' They became popular not only through music programs and variety shows but also by appearing on many magazine covers, causing a surge in searches."

The group has seen a big rise in popularity in Japan. Their debut single "AND" earned them the Japan Record Association Gold Disk "Platinum" certification (over 250,000 copies sold).

They also topped the Oricon weekly charts with their mini-album 19.99, which was released in September, taking two number-one spots. Additionally, they are continuing to gain attention and have been included in TV Asahi's prestigious year-end program, Music Station SUPER LIVE 2024.

As the "hottest group" right now, BOYNEXTDOOR’s next big milestone is their first solo tour. They will kick off BOYNEXTDOOR TOUR 'KNOCK ON Vol.1 on December 14–15 at the Incheon Inspire Arena, and will perform in 13 cities, including six in Japan where fans are eagerly awaiting their arrival.

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