The bizarre friendship of BIGBANG and T.O.P, and the cruel hope-torture [Lee Seung-hoon's Obstacle]

*This content was translated by AI.

There is no such thing as a separate hope-torture.

The mischievous moves of boy group BIGBANG and former member T.O.P (real name Choi Seung-hyun) have gone too far. After coolly drawing a line to say they would each walk their own path, they are now cleverly stepping on each other's shadows at every critical moment, provoking the public's nostalgia. This contradictory attitude, which pretends to be cool but drips with lingering attachment, is nothing more than a vicious hope-torture aimed at the fandom that has supported them for over a decade.

Recently, BIGBANG released a title poster ahead of the release of their new song 'BiiiG' to commemorate their 20th debut anniversary. Coincidentally, around the same time, T.O.P, who had left the group, also unveiled a teaser poster for his first Asia fan meeting tour. The problem is that the two posters seem to run on perfect parallel lines as if they were planned together. A massive door from which light leaks out in pitch-black darkness, and even the silhouette walking toward that light. To anyone's eyes, this is an extension of the same worldview stemming from a single root.

BIGBANG highlighted their solid three-member system by dressing the silhouettes of the three members (G-Dragon, Taeyang, Daesung) in vibrant primary colors, while T.O.P portrayed his independence with a monochrome black-and-white tone. One could make an excuse that this is a common directorial technique used in the entertainment industry, but presenting such overtly similar mise-en-scène at precisely this timing appears to be visual hope-torture and clearly intentional noise marketing.

Their inconsistent moves have been fully underway since early this year. When T.O.P released his first solo full album 'TOP SPOT - ANOTHER DIMENSION', G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung seemed to be waiting for it, posting streaming verification photos on their personal SNS accounts to launch a public support campaign. Even G-Dragon stood at the center of the controversy by openly liking an SNS post from a media outlet reporting T.O.P's comeback news.

Even more absurd is the lyrics of T.O.P's new song. Through the track 'OVAYA (A SMALL, FILTHY SHOW WINDOW)', T.O.P sang the lyric "I'm so sorry but I loved 'I left BIG-BANG!'". He cleverly twisted the signature line from BIGBANG's hit song 'Lies' to cement his departure from the group. To the public, whether it is the person who drew a line by saying "I left" or the remaining members who publicly applaud that person, it all looks like a bizarre "league of their own."

The climax of this deception is clearly revealed in BIGBANG's official SNS account established recently to commemorate their 20th debut anniversary. Currently, the follower count on this official account is only five: G-Dragon, Taeyang, Daesung, agency YG Entertainment, and surprisingly, T.O.P. How should we understand this farce of openly following a member who caused social controversy and inflicted massive damage on the team on their 20th-anniversary official account?

Looking back at T.O.P's past actions makes this situation even more bitter. In 2016, T.O.P was indicted for marijuana smoking and sentenced to 10 months in prison with a two-year probation, drawing social condemnation. He later announced his intention to retire from the entertainment industry through his personal SNS and eventually left BIGBANG as if fleeing. However, he quietly returned to the entertainment industry last December 2024, hiding behind the halo of Netflix's original series 'Squid Game' Season 2.

There is no reason to blame the personal friendship and camaraderie between artists. It is impossible for years spent together in hardship and joy to be severed overnight. Whether they share a drink behind the scenes or cheer for each other's future, that is entirely their private life.

However, dragging this friendship into the public sphere and making a scene of it is a completely different issue. Fans have already received irreparable wounds from T.O.P's social controversy and his irresponsible departure. Nevertheless, these are the people who have silently endured for 20 years to protect the remaining three members.

Presenting conflicting thresholds in front of such fans as if showing off, singing lyrics that mock their departure, and boldly listing his name on the follower list of the 20th-anniversary official account is violence beyond rudeness.

If you are going to cut ties, you must do so thoroughly. Showy displays like "we are still close" are acts that pick at fans' festering wounds. It is time to stop this selfish hope-torture that continues to stir public confusion by relying on each other's names.

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*This content was translated by AI.