Choi Seung Hyun, aka T.O.P, former member of BIGBANG, is getting a lot of attention for his role in Squid Game 2, but the reactions are very different from local and international audiences.

The highly anticipated Squid Game Season 2, which hit Netflix on December 26, follows the intense battle between Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung Jae), who returns for revenge and to participate in the games once again, and Frontman (Lee Byung Hun), who is waiting for him. The season, as a follow-up to the global hit Squid Game, has created major buzz since production began.

However, the casting of Choi Seung Hyun for a key role in the show caused quite a stir in South Korea. The star, who had previously left BIGBANG due to a marijuana scandal and retired from the entertainment industry, faced backlash over his casting. His return to acting in Squid Game 2 became one of the most talked-about and criticized decisions.

Director Hwang Dong-hyuk defended Choi Seung Hyun’s casting at a press conference before the show’s release, saying, "It took a lot of courage for Choi Seung Hyun to take on this role. I believe he was the perfect fit." He added, "You may not understand my choice now, but after watching the show, you'll see why I insisted on casting him. It wasn’t an easy decision, and it wasn’t easy for him either. I hope you judge him after seeing the work."

But when Squid Game 2 premiered, South Korean viewers were not impressed with Choi Seung Hyun's acting, especially his portrayal of Thanos, a character shown as a "drug addict." This portrayal led to a lot of negative feedback from the local audience.

Despite this, Director Hwang stood by his decision. In a People magazine interview on December 28, he praised Choi Seung Hyun’s performance, saying, "Even after a long break, I think he gave an impressive performance. I’m very satisfied with his work." This sparked even more criticism from domestic viewers, who were clearly not on the same page.

However, the international reaction to Choi Seung Hyun’s performance has been very different. Overseas audiences have praised his portrayal of Thanos, calling it one of the most memorable characters of Squid Game 2. Some international outlets even went so far as to name Thanos the standout role of the season, highlighting his realistic depiction of a "drug addict."

It seems that while domestic viewers have been tough on T.O.P's return to acting, international audiences are giving him the recognition he deserves.

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BTS’s Jimin is once again proving his global dominance, especially in Japan, where his solo music continues to break records!

Jimin's hit song "Who", from his second album MUSE, has just been awarded the prestigious Gold streaming certification from the Japan Record Association (RIAJ).

This honor comes after "Who" surpassed a remarkable 50 million streams in February, making it the first solo song by Jimin to receive this certification in Japan!

The Japan Record Association certifies music based on total streams, with Gold for 50 million streams, Platinum for 100 million, and Diamond for a massive 500 million.

This achievement adds another significant milestone to Jimin’s growing solo career.

Previously, Jimin also earned a Platinum certification for his first album FACE (for 250,000 units shipped) and a Gold certification for MUSE (for over 100,000 units shipped).

With the Gold streaming certification for "Who", Jimin now holds a total of three prestigious certifications from the Japan Record Association, solidifying his place as a solo artist.

Not only that, but "Who" made waves on the Billboard charts, staying on the Billboard Hot 100 for an impressive 33 weeks, setting a record for the longest-charting K-pop solo song! It also spent 32 weeks on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, showing just how much love fans have for his music.

Jimin’s solo success doesn’t stop there, as GOLDEN also spent 20 weeks on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart, and Jimin continues to dominate the Billboard Japan Artist 100, where he has now charted for 47 weeks! Clearly, Jimin’s popularity is unstoppable!

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