Former BIGBANG member T.O.P, real name Choi Seung-hyun, broke an 11-year silence on Wednesday, speaking out publicly about his latest acting role as the character Thanos in Netflix's Squid Game 2.

In an interview with The Korea Times, the first official interview the singer and actor has given since 2014, Choi addressed controversies surrounding his role in the popular television series following his drug conviction in 2017.

In Squid Game 2, Choi plays Thanos, a rapper who enlists in the deadly games after his career is impeded by drug use and failed cryptocurrency investments, leaving huge debts in its wake.

Choi, who received a 10-month jail sentence and a two-year suspension from his mandatory military service after he was found guilty of using marijuana, is similarly familiar with Thanos' struggles.

"The offer to play Thanos was a daunting proposition. The character mirrored my past, reflecting aspects I'd rather keep hidden," Choi revealed.

"The fear of being pigeonholed into one role made me hesitate. But destiny seemed to be pulling me in this direction," he added.

"For almost 10 years, I felt no one looked at me, but director Hwang Dong-hyuk reached out to me first. The trust (and) the belief he had in me gave me the courage to take this on. As an actor, it is my duty to repay the trust. Excelling in my performance is another assignment in my life."

Following his arrest, Choi explained that his thirties felt like a period of "lost time," which was "filled with immense shame, self-loathing, and deep introspection."

"For the past seven years, I have lived almost isolated from society, spending most of my time at home and in my music studio," he said.

"So I just kept working on music in the dark and the reason I did that was not for any other reason, but because music was the only place where I could breathe when I was composing music and standing in front of the microphone. I think I made music to survive."

"So I wrote a countless number of songs, just by listening to my own dark heart and inner turmoil. I wanted to heal myself through music and I want to share that music with my fans in some way."

In his preparation for the role and his return to acting, T.O.P revealed that he'd conducted intense research.

"The drug that Thanos uses in the series is extremely potent, so I researched the effects of such substances while developing the character," he said.

The rapper learned that those dependent on strong drugs often experienced damage to their teeth and suffered from anxiety and symptoms similar to ADHD when they underwent withdrawal.

"I tried to act differently in scenes where Thanos had not yet used the drug versus those where he had," he said.

Taking into account the details of Thanos' damaged teeth, Choi infused his acting with a unique rap choice.

"There's a type of rap style in southern U.S. hip-hop called 'mumble rap,' often associated with rappers who use powerful stimulants. I tried to channel that in the way Thanos delivers his lines," he said.

Upon reflection of what he hopes life will entail as he enters his forties, the rapper remains upbeat and sentimental.

"My primary goal is to establish a stable and less dramatic life," he said.

"I want to reach a point where I can wake up without being bombarded by negative news and feel more at peace."