Actor TOP (real name Choi Seung-hyun), formerly of the group BIGBANG, has announced his solo comeback in time for the 20th anniversary of his debut. With BIGBANG also announcing a comeback this year, TOP’s preemptive promotions are drawing attention.
On the 1st, TOP uploaded a teaser video on his personal channel with the message, “A NEW ALBUM IS ON THE WAY. TOP SPOT – Multi Perspective [ANOTHER DIMENSION],” hinting at a new song release.
He personally penned the album name ‘Multi Perspective,’ signaling his solo comeback. Simultaneously, he introduced a new Instagram account named ‘topspot_pictures,’ raising expectations for full-scale activities.
In 2016, TOP was found guilty of smoking marijuana and was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years. While serving as a public service worker in the military, he was embroiled in controversy over excessive sick leaves and not submitting medical certificates.
Amidst continuous controversies during his activities with BIGBANG, TOP eventually left the group. He removed the name ‘TOP’ and BIGBANG-related career from his profile, even striking an ‘X’ through ‘BIGBANG’ in articles related to the group. Faced with netizen comments like “don’t come back,” he firmly stated, “I have no such intentions,” effectively announcing his retirement from the entertainment industry.
However, despite the retirement announcement, TOP returned as an actor through Netflix’s ‘Squid Game 2’ in 2024.
In a release interview for ‘Squid Game 2’ at the time, TOP said, “I am not currently in contact with the members. I don’t know exactly how long it’s been, but I still feel too guilty to reach out,” and added, “I’ve long decided to leave the team, and that’s never changed,” dismissing the possibility of rejoining BIGBANG.
BIGBANG had already officially announced their comeback last year, aiming for 2026. Currently active as a trio with G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung, BIGBANG is set to perform at the ‘Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival’ in California this coming April as part of their 20th-anniversary activities.
G-Dragon also heightened fans’ expectations by mentioning at his recent solo encore concert, “Next year, I’ll be celebrating the 20th anniversary with my BIGBANG brothers. We’ll start warming up from April.”
Amid this, TOP has also begun promoting his solo comeback ahead of BIGBANG. Reactions among fans are mixed, with some expressing excitement, such as “It’s exciting to see a solo after 13 years,” “Can we see rapper TOP again?” and “It’s nice to hear such news for the New Year.” Others voiced criticism, commenting, “A solo on BIGBANG’s 20th anniversary? Be considerate,” “You said you disliked BIGBANG and left, but now want to celebrate the 20th anniversary?” and “Promoting before BIGBANG, did you forget the retirement declaration?”
