Former BIGBANG member T.O.P (Choi Seung Hyun) is ready to speak out for the first time about the scandals and criticism that have surrounded him since joining Squid Game Season 2.

According to Netflix’s Squid Game team, T.O.P will meet the press at a café in Seoul on January 15. This will mark his first public statement since skipping the drama’s press conference and promotional events.

In Squid Game Season 2, T.O.P takes on the role of "Thanos," a former rap star who falls from grace due to drug addiction and bad cryptocurrency investments, forcing him to join the deadly game. However, his casting caused a huge backlash in South Korea because of his real-life drug conviction in 2017, which earned him a suspended prison sentence.

Viewers were further divided when the show aired, criticizing not only his controversial past but also his acting. Some found it uncomfortable to see him playing a character tied so closely to his real-life issues, sparking heated discussions online.

Director Hwang Dong Hyuk, who faced criticism for casting T.O.P, addressed the controversy head-on. “I didn’t expect the casting to create such a strong reaction,” he admitted. “I believed the incident was in the past, and he had already faced consequences. Other public figures have returned after serving their penalties, so I thought it was possible for him to start anew. But public opinion was much more negative than I anticipated.”

Hwang defended his decision, saying, “We thoroughly reviewed everything, and T.O.P showed strong determination during auditions and table readings. Despite initial concerns, he demonstrated great effort and talent. I believed he was the most suitable choice for this challenging role.”

The director also highlighted differences in how the character of Thanos has been received internationally versus in South Korea. “International viewers seem to appreciate the complexity of the character, but in Korea, the reactions have been much harsher. It’s unfortunate because I think his performance deserves recognition,” Hwang added.

Lead actors Lee Jung Jae and Lee Byung Hun also denied rumors that T.O.P was cast due to personal connections, standing by the decision as one based on talent and suitability for the role.

Now, all eyes are on T.O.P as he prepares to address the public for the first time. Fans and critics alike are eager to hear his side of the story and how he plans to move forward amid the ongoing controversies.

Meanwhile, Squid Game Season 2 continues to captivate audiences with its intense storyline, featuring Gi Hun’s return for revenge against the Front Man and the deadly competition. Season 3 is already in the works and is expected to premiere later this year.

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BTS’s V is proving once again why he’s a global music powerhouse! His song “Winter Ahead (with Park Hyo Shin)” has officially surpassed 210 million streams on Spotify, showing its long-lasting popularity.

On February 26, Winter Ahead crossed the 210 million stream mark on the world’s biggest music platform, Spotify. Since its release, the song has been charting for 91 consecutive days on both the Global Spotify Chart and Europe’s Apple Music Daily Song Chart, proving its strong presence.

Originally released on November 29, 2023, Winter Ahead made a huge impact on year-end charts for 2024. It debuted at No. 99 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, topped Billboard’s Holiday Digital Song Sales chart at No.1, and ranked No. 62 on Billboard’s Holiday Top 100.

Over in the UK, the song entered the Official Singles Chart at No. 86, while securing No.1 on the Official Singles Downloads Chart and No.2 on the Singles Sales Chart, proving its incredible digital sales power.

The music video for Winter Ahead also became a hot topic! V transformed into a sculptor, delivering a deep and emotional performance with his expressive acting, pulling fans into the song’s atmosphere.

Despite being 6 minutes and 22 seconds long, the video went viral, ranking No.1 on the "Music Video Trending Worldwide" chart.

On TIDAL, a global high-quality streaming platform, Winter Ahead made history as the longest-running K-pop song at No.1 on the Global Top Video chart.

It also topped Top Video charts in several countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, Spain, Australia, and Singapore.

Even Billboard couldn’t resist the charm of Winter Ahead! The song was featured in "The 27 Best Winter Songs for the Season," with Billboard praising it as "evoking the feeling of the first day of winter, with harmonies as fresh as a snowflake."

They also noted that "its impact will last far beyond December 25."

Additionally, Winter Ahead was voted No.1 on Billboard’s ‘2024 Fan-Favorite Songs’ list, proving that fans can’t get enough of V’s music.

With this, V has now charted three songs on Billboard’s Holiday Hot 100, following Christmas Tree (2021) and his cover of White Christmas. He is officially the only K-pop artist to achieve this!

Even more impressively, he holds the record as the only K-pop artist to have three songs reach No.1 on Billboard’s Holiday Digital Song Sales chart, solidifying his dominance in the holiday music scene.

With Winter Ahead continuing to shine worldwide, V once again proves why he’s the ultimate ‘Winter King’ of K-pop.

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