Former BIGBANG member T.O.P (Choi Seung-hyun, 최승현, 38) recently confirmed his relationship with After School's Nana (Im Jin-ah, 임진아, 35). Despite the controversy that followed the announcement, the couple appears unfazed by public opinion, and their romance remains strong. They were recently spotted together at a fan-decorated birthday cafe, marking their first joint public appearance approximately a month after going public with their relationship. Nana was even seen taking photos of T.O.P with her phone, an interaction that quickly sparked discussion among netizens.
On November 2, a cafe owner in Seoul's Gangnam District shared a video on social media, announcing, "Thank you everyone, we bowed in gratitude," and revealing the surprise visit. The owner stated that T.O.P and Nana had visited the cafe. As T.O.P's birthday is on November 4, fans had specially decorated the cafe as a birthday support space, filling it with photos and various decorations. Unexpectedly, the birthday celebrant himself made an appearance.
The released footage shows T.O.P, dressed in a black jacket and white mask, looking around the cafe, carefully admiring the decorations and photos prepared by fans, occasionally smiling. Nana, accompanying him, wore a gray jacket, hat, and mask, and was seen appreciating the cafe's decor alongside him. She even took out her phone, seemingly to photograph T.O.P, indicating a sweet interaction between the two.
The cafe owner also tagged both of their social media accounts in the post, publicly sharing details of their surprise visit. As the couple officially confirmed their relationship just last month, this new sighting of them on a sweet outing naturally reignited online discussions about their romance.
T.O.P's appearance with Nana at the fan-prepared birthday support cafe sparked mixed reactions among netizens. Some argued that bringing his girlfriend to an event meticulously prepared by fans showed a lack of consideration for their feelings. However, many netizens supported the couple, believing that T.O.P is no longer at an age where he needs to maintain an idol image, and that fans should respect his private life.
Numerous netizens commented, "Let's support them now! They're both at that age, and as people, they should be able to date and enjoy life!" "I hope you don't lose your way again and build a happy family," "Both of them are so beautiful, they really match well. Happy birthday," "He's not an idol anymore! Let's support them as ordinary people, they've given us so much joy in the past, that's enough," and "T.O.P is almost 40, just leave him alone."
Some fans also felt that outsiders seemed more concerned about his relationship than actual fans, stating, "I really think T.O.P's fans probably don't care at all, they'd probably even wish them well!" and "BIGBANG barely has any fans who treat idols as romantic partners, hahaha! When G-Dragon had dating rumors, or when Taeyang announced his relationship and marriage, fans weren't affected at all. It's funny how non-fans are the ones making a big fuss."
A netizen claiming to be a T.O.P fan also commented, "I think it's really great that he met someone like Nana, and I'm happy for him! I never liked him with an 'idol romance' mindset; most of T.O.P's fans like his voice, him as a person, and his music." Another netizen added, "If I were his fan, I'd be very happy to see him dating Nana!"
Even long-time fans came to T.O.P's defense. A netizen who identified as a VIP (BIGBANG's official fandom name) for 20 years stated, "We never criticize members for dating. I really don't understand why suddenly there are videos being made to sensationalize T.O.P's relationship... Please, let them live their lives." Others believed that if the couple and fans were happy, there was no need for excessive outside interference: "They're already at this age; if they're happy in this relationship, isn't that enough?" and "The fans themselves were clearly happy that he showed up in person. If the fans don't mind, isn't that fine? At their age, is such a big reaction really necessary?"
T.O.P and Nana officially confirmed their relationship on October 2. The two reportedly first met during the filming of T.O.P's solo song "DOOM DADA" music video, gradually became close, and transitioned from friends to lovers around June of this year. After their relationship was revealed, Nana also expressed her shy feelings to fans and stated that she would cherish the relationship.
Meanwhile, T.O.P recently issued an apology to his long-time fans. The fan site "CHOIDOT," which had supported him for many years, recently announced its closure, a piece of news that saddened many long-time fans. In response, T.O.P posted on social media on November 1, expressing his gratitude and apologies to the fans who had supported him throughout his journey.
He mentioned that during his lowest points in life, it was the unwavering support of his fans that gave him the courage to restart his music activities. He specifically apologized to the fan site management team and fans who were hurt because of him, expressing his deep appreciation for their long-standing support.
