The breakthrough yearThe year he turned 19, he debuted in the five-member group BigBang at YG’s 10th anniversary concert on Aug. 19, 2006. The debut single was first on the music charts on the day of release, and 12,000 people came to the first solo concert in December. Star News called BigBang super rookies.
In 2007, he began acting as the top fighter of an elite high school in KBS2’s I Am Sam, and BigBang topped the music programs of all three broadcasters with “Lies.” In 2008, BigBang received Artist of the Year at the MKMF.
In 2009, he appeared in KBS2’s Iris as the agent Vick. In 2010, he played the lead in the film 71: Into the Fire and released the unit album GD&TOP with G-Dragon. In 2011, BigBang became the first winner of the Best Worldwide Act category at the MTV Europe Music Awards.
In 2012, BigBang’s first world tour began in Seoul. In 2013, he played the lead in the film Commitment and released the solo song “Doom Dada.” Tazza: The Hidden Card opened in 2014.
In 2015, BigBang’s Made Tour was planned as 70 shows in 15 countries. In 2016, the group held its 10th anniversary concert at Seoul World Cup Stadium. In February 2017, he enlisted as a conscripted police officer, and in July he was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, in a cannabis case.
In 2018, he began reporting to the Yongsan district office as a social service worker. He was released from service in July 2019. In 2020, YG said it had signed contracts with BigBang’s members.
In 2022, on the day the BigBang single “Still Life” came out, he announced the end of his YG contract. In 2023, his name appeared in the Squid Game Season 2 cast list that Netflix released. In December 2024, Season 2 was released, with him as the rapper Thanos.
In 2025, he met reporters for the first time in 11 years, and in June he appeared at the Season 3 finale event, his first public appearance in Korea in eight years. In 2026, he released his first solo full-length album, Another Dimension, and held a fan meeting in Japan and a brand tour in Asia.
T.O.P (born Nov 4, 1987) debuted in the group BigBang on Aug 19, 2006, the year he turned 19, and became known. In 2010, the year he turned 23, he played the lead in the film 71: Into the Fire, and in 2026, the year he turned 39, he released his first solo full-length album, Another Dimension.
Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.
Debuted as one of five members with G-Dragon, Taeyang, Daesung and Seungri. Star News writes that the group officially debuted through YG’s 10th anniversary concert.
It was first on the Hanteo Chart and Hottracks on the day of release. Before debuting, the group had drawn attention for a 300 million won ad contract with the school uniform brand Skoolooks.
Source 02 · Star News (Korean) · BigBang’s debut single on its first day of release · opens in a new tab A 2016 Star News article calls the same release a mini album.12,000 people filled the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Olympic Park, Seoul, and T.O.P performed “BIG BOY” in the members’ solo-song stages. Star News called the show a performance by super rookies.
Source 03 · Star News (Korean) · BigBang’s first concert draws 12,000 · opens in a new tabAppeared as Chae Mu-sin, the top fighter of an elite high school. Dailian writes that the drama was his debut as an actor.
Source 05 · MyDaily (Korean) · Red Rock music video and T.O.P’s shaved head · opens in a new tabSource 06 · Dailian (Korean) · T.O.P to get more screen time in I Am Sam · opens in a new tab The first-broadcast date follows the schedule announced in a July article (Aug. 6) and was not confirmed in a same-day article.The song, written by G-Dragon, topped the music programs of the three broadcasters and the online and offline charts. Edaily writes that the group finally had a signature song with it. T.O.P was appearing in I Am Sam at the time.
Source 04 · Edaily (Korean) · BigBang sweeps music shows on all three broadcasters · opens in a new tabSource 07 · Newsis (Korean) · BigBang one year after debut · opens in a new tabBigBang received Artist of the Year for “Haru Haru,” along with Best Male Group and Best Digital Music. T.O.P gave the acceptance speech for Artist of the Year.
Source 08 · MyDaily (Korean) · 2008 MKMF grand prize · opens in a new tabAppeared for the first time in episode 2 as Vick, a secret organization agent. Edaily says the part is supporting-level but will grow.
Source 09 · Edaily (Korean) · T.O.P’s first appearance in Iris · opens in a new tabPlayed the lead, Oh Jang-beom, in a film about the true story of 71 student soldiers in the Korean War. Cumulative admissions reached 1,962,945 as of the 29th.
Source 11 · Asia Economy (Korean) · 71: Into the Fire passes 2 million · opens in a new tabSource 10 · Asia Economy (Korean) · T.O.P’s thank-you note for 71: Into the Fire · opens in a new tabThe unit formed by G-Dragon and T.O.P had “High High,” “Oh Yeah” and “Knock Out” as title tracks.
Source 12 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · GD&TOP album released · opens in a new tabAt the ceremony in Belfast, Northern Ireland, BigBang became the first winner of Best Worldwide Act, a category created that year. Star News writes that it was the first Korean act to win.
Source 13 · Star News (Korean) · BigBang wins MTV EMA Best Worldwide Act · opens in a new tab The ceremony date is local time. The article names Daesung and G-Dragon as the members present.Starting in Seoul, the group performed in 25 cities in 16 countries.
Source 01 · Star News (Korean) · BigBang’s 10th anniversary in numbers · opens in a new tabPlayed the lead as Ri Myeong-hun, a boy who becomes a North Korean agent sent to the South. On opening day, 125,672 people saw it on 588 screens nationwide, and it started in first place at the box office.
Source 14 · Maeil Business Newspaper (Korean) · Commitment takes first place on opening day · opens in a new tabHis first new solo song in about three years and five months. The music video on the official YouTube channel passed 1.83 million views on the 17th, its second day.
Source 15 · OSEN (Korean) · T.O.P’s “Doom Dada” music video · opens in a new tabCo-led with Shin Se-kyung. It passed 2 million admissions by Sept. 9, the seventh day of release.
Source 16 · Newsis (Korean) · Tazza: The Hidden Card passes 2 million · opens in a new tabThe tour was planned as 70 shows in 15 countries, with performances in South Korea, China, the Philippines, Mexico, the U.S., Canada, Australia and elsewhere.
Source 01 · Star News (Korean) · BigBang’s 10th anniversary in numbers · opens in a new tab The article gives only the year, so the date stops at the year.Held BIGBANG10 THE CONCERT : 0.TO.10 at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Star News wrote that, with 65,000 seats, it was the largest single-show headline concert in Korea up to that time.
Source 17 · Star News (Korean) · BigBang’s 10th anniversary concert · opens in a new tabEntered the Army training center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong, for four weeks of basic training, and was to serve in the riot police band of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. He had wrapped up activities the month before with BigBang’s Hong Kong show on its 10th anniversary tour.
Source 18 · Dailian (Korean) · Kim Junsu and T.O.P enlist · opens in a new tabSentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, for smoking cannabis at home in October 2016. He apologized to reporters and said he would do his best to fulfill his military duty in whatever form it was decided.
Source 19 · Seoul Economic Daily (Korean) · T.O.P’s first-instance sentence · opens in a new tabSource 20 · KBS News (Korean) · T.O.P gets a suspended sentence · opens in a new tabFinished his alternative service at the Yongsan Craft Museum and was released at 7 p.m. A rule shortening service periods moved the release date up to the 8th, and the closure of his workplace that day moved it two days earlier.
Source 22 · Maeil Business Newspaper (Korean) · T.O.P released from service at 7 p.m. on the 6th · opens in a new tabSource 23 · Segye Ilbo (Korean) · T.O.P meets fans after his release · opens in a new tabYG said it had signed contracts with G-Dragon, Taeyang, T.O.P and Daesung.
Source 24 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · BigBang re-signs with YG · opens in a new tabA single by four members: T.O.P, G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung. It was BigBang’s first comeback as a full group since “Flower Road” in March 2018, over four years earlier.
Source 25 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · BigBang’s “Still Life” · opens in a new tabNewsen reports that he announced the end of his YG contract on official social media and said there were no plans for a BigBang comeback for the time being. YG said he could rejoin BigBang’s activities whenever circumstances allow.
Source 26 · Newsen (Korean) · BigBang members part ways with YG · opens in a new tabSource 27 · Xportsnews (Korean) · T.O.P’s 16 years message · opens in a new tab Articles give different dates for his leaving BigBang. This record covers only the April 5 contract announcement.Posted a photo on social media as one of 10 crew members of the project led by the Japanese businessman Yusaku Maezawa.
Source 28 · Money Today (Korean) · T.O.P and the dearMoon crew · opens in a new tabNetflix released the Season 2 cast list, which included the name Choi Seung-hyun.
Source 29 · Korea Economic Daily (Korean) · T.O.P joins Squid Game 2 · opens in a new tabPlayed the rapper Thanos. Season 2 was released at 5 p.m. that day and ranked first in 93 countries in the tally on the 30th.
Source 30 · JTBC (Korean) · Squid Game Season 2 review · opens in a new tabSource 31 · OSEN (Korean) · Squid Game 2 first in 93 countries · opens in a new tabMet reporters for the first time in 11 years, since Tazza: The Hidden Card in 2014.
Source 32 · Maeil Business Newspaper (Korean) · T.O.P’s first interview in 11 years · opens in a new tabAttended an event at Seoul Plaza with the series cast, his first public appearance in Korea in eight years. Season 3 had been released the day before, on the 27th.
Source 33 · Financial News (Korean) · T.O.P at a public event for the first time in 8 years · opens in a new tabSource 34 · Maeil Business Newspaper (Korean) · T.O.P at a public event for the first time in 8 years · opens in a new tabThe album has 11 tracks, including the double title tracks “Desperado” and “Studio 54.” His first new solo song in 13 years, since “Doom Dada” in 2013.
Source 35 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · T.O.P’s first full-length album · opens in a new tabHeld free for all seats at Pia Arena MM in Yokohama, with about 10,000 people attending. Maeil Business Newspaper described it as a reunion with Japanese fans after 10 years.
Source 36 · Maeil Business Newspaper (Korean) · T.O.P’s Japan fan meeting · opens in a new tabThe tour began in Hong Kong and continues through December to Taipei, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo and Kaohsiung. The Taipei shows were held on the 22nd and 23rd.
Source 37 · TV Report (Korean) · T.O.P’s solo tour · opens in a new tabSource 38 · Korea Economic Daily (Korean) · T.O.P’s Yeongeugi Kkeunnago Nan Dwi (After the Play Ends) music video · opens in a new tabEND OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 2006–2026 · not a complete list of work. “Key moment” is an editorial label, not a measure of success.
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AgeTrail lines up the key moments of a life by age.
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Music · South Korea
Nov 4, 1987 —
Ages are counted from the birth year 1987: the year of the event minus 1987, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.
Fact-checked: 2026.10.03 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.