Big Bang member T.O.P. celebrated his birthday on November 4, and fans marked his very special day differently. The 31-year-old South Korean rapper's supporters made a huge donation to a foundation meant to help the less fortunate.
According to the Jakarta Post, T.O.P.'s fans from South Korea, China, Japan, and Thailand worked together to gather 11 million won or about $9,000 to donate to Yongsan Public Welfare Foundation. The money intended to help poor people.
Fans' donations also marked T.O.P.'s recent birthday. His sister even shared a photo of his birthday cake on Instagram, and it seemed to resemble the Big Bang rapper's "Bang Bang Bang" look, per Allkpop.
Talking about Instagram, T.O.P. recently returned to the said social media platform on October 31. After one year and six months since he last shared an update on the video-sharing app, the hitmaker posted a couple of photos.
T.O.P. first shared a photo of artwork and two unknown men. Although his posts didn't reveal his image, fans already celebrated to receive an update from him, per Soompi.
T.O.P. is still serving his military duty at the Yongsan Crafts Museum in Itaewon, central Seoul. It is an alternative to his original task after he got pulled out from his previous responsibility after he failed a drug test.
Originally, he was supposed to get discharged this month. But it was pushed back to a later date in June 2019. T.O.P. has been keeping away from the spotlight after his military enlistment and drug controversies.
To recall, T.O.P. got 10-month suspended jail sentence for smoking marijuana in 2016. He got caught just weeks after he got hospitalized for drugs overdose.
The Big Bang member admitted that he indeed smoked marijuana four times in his home in Seoul in October 2016.
"As Choi has admitted to the charges, he is found guilty," a Seoul judge said, calling T.O.P. by his real name, Choi Seung-Hyun. The arbitrator added that offenses related to drugs have strict punishments as it has a negative effect on society in general. However, the singer showed great remorse and got considered.
T.O.P. told the press that he "he "sincerely regretted causing trouble" when he arrived at the court at the time. He also issued a public apology to both of his and Big Bang's fans.
"Both recreational and medical use" of marijuana in South Korea is illegal. Even smoking the prohibited substance is a crime in the country and punishable by law for up to five years in prison or a 50 million won (US$44,500) fine.
