The controversy surrounding the casting of T.O.P. (also known as Choi Seung Hyun) in Squid Game 2 was recently addressed by director Hwang Dong Hyuk. Since his participation was disclosed, the choice has generated intense discussion and negative online reviews.
Many South Korean viewers have been skeptical of Thanos (T.O.P.’s character) because of cultural differences and T.O.P.’s past, however viewers from other countries have been more accepting.
Hwang clarified that while cartoonish, overblown characters like Thanos are popular abroad, Korean viewers, who often favor realistic and somber depictions, frequently find them out of place. Hwang defended his artistic decision in the face of some harsh criticism, claiming that Thanos was purposefully made to be outrageous and eccentric.
Hwang Dong Hyuk stated: “Even during Season 1, there were some cartoonish and exaggerated characters, and people in Korea said they felt out of place. They found such characters awkward. However, overseas audiences love these types of characters. In Korea, where serious, realism-based performances are the norm, the cartoonish and exaggerated nature of such characters may feel ‘awkward’ or ‘overdone.’ That’s the kind of role Thanos plays, and that’s how I directed it.
He’s always in a euphoric state, similar to some of the quirky rappers you see on Show Me the Money. I combined elements of such figures into this character. Since he’s on drugs, he’s ‘high’ and over-the-top. I think he acted according to my intentions. While some viewers in Korea may find it overacted or excessive, I wanted to create a character that could evoke such polarizing reactions. I believe younger audiences or international viewers might find the character memorable and even enjoyable. Based on current reactions, foreign viewers seem to have a favorable impression of Thanos and find him striking.”
The character’s casting was a complicated process.
Hwang Dong further instated, “We held auditions, but Seung Hyun wasn’t initially considered for the role. I wanted to create a group reflecting current issues among young people, such as the frenzy over cryptocurrencies, virtual currencies, and drugs, which are also problems overseas. We held auditions for a long time, looking for someone who could portray a hip-hop-loving, drug-using character, but I couldn’t find anyone who met my criteria.”
During this search, T.O.P.’s name came up, and although Hwang was first apprehensive because of the actor’s years-long absence after his marijuana conviction, he finally got in touch. Hwang concluded that T.O.P. was a suitable fit for the part after several auditions and some reservations about his preparedness.
“Then someone on my team mentioned Seung Hyun and brought him to my attention. They said, ‘Hasn’t he been out of the public eye for a while?’ and explained that after his (marijuana) incident, he’d taken a long hiatus. Since he used to act and rap, they suggested contacting him through the production company. I wasn’t expecting much, considering he had been away for a long time and had quit everything after the marijuana incident. I think he spent a lot of time reflecting on whether he could play a rapper ruined by drugs, a role that was so similar to his own story.”
In reference to the public outcry surrounding T.O.P.’s background, Hwang said that he had misjudged the intensity of the criticism. He pointed out that many South Korean prominent leaders have historically returned to their jobs after taking a hiatus, and he thought six years was a good amount of time to contemplate.
“Up until the press conference, I didn’t realize T.O.P hadn’t been forgiven to this extent. When I cast him, I researched the history of celebrities who had resumed their careers after drug scandals, going back to the Park Chung Hee administration. At that time, there were crackdowns on marijuana use, and many were allowed to return to the industry after about four years. Given that it’s been six to seven years for Seung Hyun, I thought enough time had passed for people to accept him. However, I was surprised by the backlash.
After seeing the controversies and his comments about not making a comeback in Korea, I realized, ‘This is a bigger issue than I thought.’ But personally, I couldn’t just say, ‘You can’t be part of this because you haven’t been forgiven.’ I wanted to work with him to create something that could show whether he could earn forgiveness. In the end, it’s up to the public to decide if they’ll accept him again after seeing his work.”
