Who plays Thanos in Squid Game season 2? Meet Korean rapper TOP

But it's K-pop star Choi Seung-hyun, also known by his rap stage name TOP, and his portrayal of eccentric and purple-haired Thanos that has captured the attention of fans and even prompted some backlash amongst viewers.

Some on social media have branded the character "annoying" and even "cringey" for his eccentric persona, which sees him regularly break into rapping and during the show's deadly games while attempting to flirt with female players.

Other viewers have come to his defence, calling Choi's performance as Thanos one of the more memorable and entertaining turns in season 2, suggesting some degree of polarisation on this particular contestant.

The character derives his name from the popular Marvel Comics villain, who became widely known around the world for his antagonistic roles in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, with Squid Game's Thanos styling his hair and nails according to his moniker.

If you're interested to know more about Squid Game season 2's divisive menace Thanos and the Korean superstar playing the role, look no further than our profile on Choi Seung-hyun below.

Who is Thanos in Squid Game season 2?

Thanos is Player 230 in Squid Game season 2 and a villainous figure in the story.

He emerges as a dangerous and untrustworthy character from the very start, behaving aggressively towards other players – including purposefully getting several people killed during Red Light, Green Light.

In his backstory, he is a rapper of some notoriety, who has been suffering a career downturn following an embarrassing appearance on a televised music competition. He also lost a large sum of money on a cryptocurrency scam involving one of the other players.

He calls himself Thanos because he repeatedly states his raps could kill half of the people on the planet, referencing the sinister plan of the Marvel villain enacted in Avengers: Infinity War.

Is there a reason Thanos speaks English in Squid Game?

While there isn't a specific reason for the character's jumps between Korean and English, flitting between the two languages is common among Korean rappers and can be heard in tracks by K-pop bands such as BigBang; the boyband actor Seung-hyun was once a member of.

Who plays Thanos in Squid Game season 2?

Choi Seung-hyun, also known by his stage name TOP, plays Thanos (Player 230) in Squid Game season 2.

The musician has been less prominent since around 2016, when he was found guilty of using marijuana – an offence considered more serious in South Korea than it is in certain parts of the US and Canada, where it can be obtained legally.

In a recent interview with People, Squid Game showrunner Hwang Dong-hyuk praised TOP for his portrayal of a rapper whose public reputation has slumped, reflecting his own real-life issues.

He explained: "As you may know, the actor Seung-hyun, about nine years ago, got involved in a marijuana scandal in Korea and wasn't able to do any projects for the past nine years in Korea.

"And so this is a comeback after quite a long hiatus, and particularly because he portrays a character that’s a rapper and also someone who is on drugs... I feel that it took him a lot of guts, in a way."

Hwang added: "To portray a character, especially someone who shares a lot of similarities that are quite negative to him as a person too. So I think it took him a lot of courage to take on that role."

Here are some key details on Choi Seung-hyun:

Age: 37

Career: Actor/singer/songwriter/rapper

Instagram: @ttt

Is Squid Game star Choi Seung-hyun a real rapper?

Yes, Choi Seung-hyun began his rapping career under the stage name TOP in the K-pop boyband BigBang, who released their debut album back in 2006.

Since then, the group has sold more than 4 million records in South Korea and Japan, earning much acclaim for their blending of pop with other genres, including dance, rap and R&B.

BigBang's most recent single was Still Life, released in April 2022, which sparked hopes of a comeback after an extended hiatus, but TOP proceeded to announce his departure from the group only a year later.

He has also released music as a solo artist and in a duo with fellow BigBang member G-Dragon.

Squid Game seasons 1-2 are available to stream on Netflix.

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