Better known as rapper T.O.P of superhit second generation Kpop boy band Big Bang, Chae Seung Hyeon (sometimes romanized as Choi Seong Hyun and Choi Song Hyun, among other variations) is a singer, songwriter, music producer, and actor under the YG Entertainment label until early 2022.
One of the few early second-generation idols still active in the industry, T.O.P has established a name for himself as a musician and an actor independent of his idol group identity.
Family and Early Life
Chae is from the family of the famed Korean artist Whanki Kim, which gave him the privilege of being inside the world of art from a young age. Having been born and brought up in Seoul, the family’s connection gave him the advantage of not only a familiarity with the arts but the music industry as well.
Before YG and the Scouting
As was the case with a significant number of the early second-generation idols, Chae was one of those scouted specifically for his performance abilities as opposed to just looks. Fellow group mate and superstar rapper G-Dragon was a childhood friend with whom Chae performed often at school festivals.
By the time he was scouted by YG, he had already made a name for himself as a rising star in Seoul’s underground hip hop scene. He debuted with the stage name T.O.P. and was one of the two main rappers of Big Bang.
To the TOP with Big Bang
Though entirely different in musicality and structure, Big Bang was seen as YG’s answer to SM’s TVXQ and Super Junior by the fans of all the idol groups, thus prompting fan wars that also provoked quality output from all involved groups.
Alongside girl group 2NE1, Big Bang enjoyed global fame during the earlier Hallyu era. Chae and his labelmates were called the kings of k-pop due to their widespread fame worldwide and for breaking the ceiling in the western music sphere. Their 2012 extended play “Alive” was the first-ever Korean album to debut on the US Billboard music chart.
Both Chae and his band have won multiple recognitions and awards throughout their illustrious career.
Career Highlights
Chae was the first Big Bang member to debut as an actor with the weekday television series “I am Sam,” playing the main role alongside the queen of romcoms Park Min Young and the relatively unknown Lee Min Ho.
He was featured in legendary singer Uhm Jung Hwa’s DISCO music video and played a critically acclaimed role in the superhit television series “Iris.”
He also played one of the leads in the war movie “71: Into the Fire” by director Lee Jae Hun of Operation Chromite fame. This movie earned various awards, nominations, and recognitions for Chae’s acting prowess.
Philanthropy
During the viral Ice Bucket Challenge, a worldwide campaign for awareness about ALS, Chase participated in the challenge as well as donated to the Seungil Foundation in aid of ALS patients.
He has also partnered with Sotheby’s for a charity auction, the proceeds of which were donated to support Asian artists. He was one of the celebrities that donated to the COVID-19 relief measures.
Controversies
Chae and G-Dragon were one of the few celebrities who were hinting about the suspicious activities of fellow bandmate Seungri before the “Burning Sun Scandal” was revealed, and many celebrities were indicted and arrested for their involvement in this sexual assault ring. Though Big Bang was criticized by a few online commenters, those talks were overshadowed by the enormity and severity of the scandal itself.
In a more hilarious non-scandal, a few Indonesian fans reportedly posted against T.O.P. in online forums after his bandmate Taeyang’s wedding with actress Min Hyorin was announced. This was supposedly due to a translation error of an Indonesian portal where T.O.P., instead Taeyang was announced to be marrying Min. Most of these comments are said to have been deleted later.
Though not much information about this particular “controversy” is available on the interwebs anymore, it’s still fondly recalled by K-pop fans who remember the brief confusion.
While the above two cannot be said to be controversies in any real sense, Chae was involved in a scandal that forced him out of the mandatory conscription in 2017.
He was accused of and pleaded guilty to four counts of marijuana consumption punishable by incarceration under South Korean law. He was conscripted for his mandatory military service when the prosecution began and was subsequently suspended from service. He was later allowed to complete his service as a public service worker.