Former Big Bang member and actor T.O.P. /Courtesy of News1

Former Big Bang member Choi Seung-hyun (Top·38) said he is currently not in contact with the other Big Bang members.

Choi Seung-hyun, during an official interview for the Netflix series "Squid Game 2" held on the 15th in Jongno District, Seoul, noted, "As of now, I am not in contact with the Big Bang members," and added, "I can’t remember exactly how long it has been since I last contacted them, but I think my heart is calming down a bit, and I might reach out."

It had been 11 years since Choi Seung-hyun last gave an interview, following the 2014 film "Tazza: The High Rollers," and this was his first official appearance since being penalized for drug use seven years prior in 2017. Choi Seung-hyun stated he could not contact them because he felt guilty for causing significant damage to Big Bang and his former agency due to his past mistakes. However, since Big Bang made a comeback with G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung last year, fans have been expressing hopes that Choi Seung-hyun will join them.

He said, "I can no longer inflict harm on the team, so I decided to leave. I was really struggling with the thought that if I joined the team I had caused harm to, it might leave a stigma on the members because of me. I know there are people who wish for a reunion. It really hurts my heart to see such messages. Sometimes fans tag me in photos of Big Bang members, including myself, on my social media. When I see those photos, it feels like looking at a family photo of a family that has separated. Unless you are the involved party, you can't speak to that pain and suffering. I was naive."

When asked if he had ever considered returning to Big Bang, Choi Seung-hyun once again acknowledged, "I feel guilty," and said, "I made up my mind a long time ago not to join. Since then, that feeling has not changed."

Choi Seung-hyun's return was also not smooth. He was offered an audition for the role of Thanos by the production team of "Squid Game 2," which involved a drug-addicted rapper. Choi Seung-hyun shared, "I had to face my embarrassing past, and I was really worried about being globally typecast as Thanos. In the past 10 years, no one sought me out, but I gathered courage because I was grateful that director Hwang Dong-hyuk extended his hand to me." However, after news of his casting was made public, he considered withdrawing due to some criticisms about inappropriate casting.

After the drama's release, reviews of his acting were mixed domestically, but he received favorable reviews overseas. He mentioned, "Since Thanos is a failed hip-hop loser with an exaggerated character like in comics, I kept the rap simple and went for an awkward concept," and added, "I hoped it would turn into short-form content or a funny meme."

Describing his time away from the public as a "lost decade," he nevertheless stated, "I don’t regret the time I lost." He continued, "I believe that was also a dark time that I had to experience. My dream is to become an actor who can express my self that grew in the dark shadows. I want to be a sincere actor."