They found love and built families. Pink-hued news arrived side by side for former BIGBANG members Seungri and T.O.P, but the shadows of their pasts remain too heavy for the news to be met with pure celebration.
In an interview with Ilgan Sports on October 28, Seungri revealed that he has already completed his marriage registration with a non-celebrity woman in her 20s and is expecting a son in January next year. Addressing premarital pregnancy rumors, he denied them, stating, “My wife and I are legally married as a couple, and the claim that we got married because she became pregnant is not true.”
Seungri added, “As I am now responsible for a family, I feel a much heavier sense of duty. I deeply reflect on the disappointment and pain caused by my past mistakes, and I will show a changed version of myself through a quiet and earnest life.” He also requested, “As my family members are not public figures, I kindly ask everyone to refrain from excessive interest and speculation.”
There is a reason Seungri bowed his head even while announcing news of marriage and a second generation that would typically be congratulated. Seungri was identified as a key figure in the “Burning Sun Gate” scandal that shook the entertainment industry in 2019, leading to his departure from the group and effective expulsion from the industry. He was subsequently handed down nine charges, including prostitution mediation and habitual gambling, receiving a 1-year-and-6-month prison sentence from the Supreme Court in May 2022. He was released from prison in February 2023.
However, his release did not put an end to the noise surrounding him. He faced public backlash multiple times after videos surfaced showing him mentioning other BIGBANG members and performing BIGBANG songs at overseas events. Eyewitness accounts of him attending overseas clubs and parties continued uninterrupted. Furthermore, he recently returned to the center of controversy after being sued for special assault. Seungri is accused of threatening and assaulting a man in his 30s with a glass bottle at a restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul, in August.
Amid these circumstances, Seungri announced his marriage and upcoming fatherhood while promising a life of family responsibility. Yet despite his vow to show a changed image, public reaction remained cold, summoning his past misdeeds once again rather than offering congratulations.
Prior to this, the reaction was similarly cold toward former BIGBANG member T.O.P, who recently found love. T.O.P was brought to trial in 2016 on charges of marijuana use and was sentenced to 10 months in prison suspended for two years the following year. He subsequently drifted away from BIGBANG’s activities before officially leaving the group in 2022.
His actions during the process of leaving the team also left deep scars on long-time fans. In 2019, T.O.P engaged in a heated exchange with a commenter who wrote, “Don’t make a comeback,” replying, “Yes! My God! I don’t plan to either. Just look at animal photos.” The following year, he effectively hinted at retirement during a live stream by stating, “I won’t make a comeback in Korea.”
However, T.O.P resumed his acting activities by taking on the role of Thanos in Netflix’s Squid Game Season 2 in 2024. During an interview at the time, he bowed his head regarding his departure from BIGBANG and reversing his retirement statement, saying, “I was far too rash, and even thinking about it now makes my heart ache. I regret it deeply.”
This year, he even resumed his singing career by releasing his first solo full-length album. In the process of filming a music video, he met singer-actress Nana, with the two developing into lovers and acknowledging their relationship on October 2. However, from his past marijuana use to reversing his retirement, his past actions were summoned once more, resulting in cold public skepticism rather than warm congratulations.
