A Primer On The BTS Members For Your Clueless Friend, Because Resisting K-Pop Is Futile
Everything you need to know about the record-breaking Korean boy band so you can finally join the conversation.
There was a time the only thing people knew about Korean pop culture was their highly engaging K-dramas, which took over the TV screens of Filipino fans and captured their imagination. We thought that was the height of what many called “Korean invasion,” until a group of seven twentysomethings from South Korea broke into the music scene in 2013, achieving global recognition nobody even thought possible.
Whether or not you are a fan, you’ve certainly heard your Gen Z officemates or your nieces mention the acronym “BTS” with much kilig. BTS, or Bangtan Sonyeondan in Hangul, is the South Korean boy band responsible for that worldwide hit “Dynamite” which plays on endless loop in your young daughter’s bedroom.
Debuting with the single “No More Dream” eight years ago, BTS achieved moderate success in the first few years of its career but soon became a worldwide sensation with record-breaking hits and multiple music awards, thanks in part to outstanding choreography, relatable lyrics, and, of course, the charm of each of its members.
BTS has seven members: RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. If you are late to the party and are only getting to know BTS now, here’s a primer you need to read before you go full-on A.R.M.Y. (what BTS fans call themselves).
RM: An IQ of 148
Born on September 12, 1994, Kim Namjoon, more commonly known as “RM,” is the leader of the group and was the first member scouted by Big Hit (BH) Entertainment chairman and chief executive officer Bang Si-hyuk. The 26-year-old’s quiet charm and intelligence makes him a true Virgo rising.
“RM was an underground rapper, whose stage name was Runch Randa,” says Alecks Jalgalado, a 39-year-old entrepreneur and BTS stan (a modern slang for “zealous fan”) since 2019. After following the career of the K-pop band for more than a year, she practically knows each member by heart.
“[RM] has produced and composed more than a hundred songs prior to joining BH Entertainment,” she adds.
When RM was 12 years old, he moved to New Zealand to study and remained there for four months. He has an above-average IQ of 148, according to Soompi and is the sole member of BTS who can speak fluently in English, which he learned just by watching all ten seasons of the ‘90s cult classic sitcom “Friends.”
Currently, RM has over 6.8 million followers on Instagram.
Suga: Wanted to be a producer, not a singer
Suga (pronounced like “sugar” but with a silent “R”), whose real name is Min Yoongi, was born on March 9, 1993, which makes him a Pisces, and the second eldest member in the group. He is the second member to join and one of the three rappers in BTS alongside J-Hope and RM.
Says Alecks. “Before [Suga] joined BH Entertainment, he went by the stage name “Gloss” as an underground rapper.” Originally, the 27-year-old wanted to become a producer when he signed up under the group’s management, and to this day he likes to joke about how Bang Si-hyuk “deceived” him to be a K-pop celebrity, which eventually worked out in the end.
“Suga is one of the most caring members in the group, according to J-hope,” Alecks says.
Suga has over 7.1 million followers on Instagram.
J-Hope: BTS’ main choreographer
Jung Ho-seok is the third eldest among the members and the main dancer of BTS. Born on February 18, 1994 in Gwanju, South Korea, J-Hope is a true-blue Aquarian who is assertive, analytical, original, and independent.
“He is referred to as "Manager Jung" because he plays a vital role in [the] dance choreography for BTS’ music [videos],” says Alecks.
Prior to joining BTS, J-Hope attended dance sessions at Gwangju Music Academy, then became a member of a dance group called “Neuron.” The 26-year-old’s undeniable precision and smooth grooves definitely make him stand out as a dancer and artist.
Business Times reports that RM considers J-Hope to be the next leader of the group.
J-Hope’s Instagram has around 6.9 million followers.
Jin: Foodie and restaurateur
Kim Seok-jin holds a bachelor’s degree in acting and art from Konkuk University. Born on December 4, 1992 in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, the oldest member in the group also went to Hanyang Cyber University to pursue higher studies in 2017.
Jin’s discovery is almost accidental. While he was exiting a bus one day, a casting director caught sight of him and ran after him to invite him to audition for the group.
“He is the cook in the group and uses his blog to share his foodie adventures with his fans,” says Alecks. In July 2018, Jin and his brother Kim Seok-jungopened a Japanese restaurant called Ossu Seriomushi in Seoul.
This Sagittarian once called himself “Worldwide Handsome” and the nickname has since stuck.
Jin’s Instagram currently has over 7.1 million followers.
Jungkook: Taekwondo black belt
Jeon Jung-kook is the youngest member of the band at 23, earning him the title “Golden Maknae” (maknae refers to the youngest in a group). Being multi-talented – he is the main vocalist and lead dancer of the group – he is also considered “golden.” Jungkook was born on September 1, 1997 in Busan and is a Virgo like RM.
Jungkook has always loved to perform. When he was 13, he joined the show “Superstar K Season 3,” although he did not win in the finals. Because of that exposure, however, several entertainment agencies reached out to him with offers, which ended happily with a contract with Big Hit Entertainment.
Jungkook holds a black belt in Taekwondo. He has also proven how effective he is as an “endorser,” even if unwittingly. In 2019, he accidentally mentioned during a fan chat that his favorite fabric conditioner is Downy, which prompted an 11% sales increase for the brand and a shortage of that product for months.
Jungkook has around 8 million followers on Instagram.
V: K-drama star
Kim-Taehyung, more commonly known for his stage name “V” which stands for victory, was born on December 30, 1995 in Daegu. V is recognized for his deep voice and is one of BTS’ main vocalists and dancers.
Alecks shares some fan trivia about V: He can speak fluently in Japanese, clenches his teeth while sleeping, and prefers hot cocoa over coffee. “He goes to fellow BTS members Jimin and Jin when he needs advice but finds it easier to talk to the former because they are the same age.”
The 25-year-old also boasts of an acting career: He played the role of Han Sung in the historical Korean drama “Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth,” which aired in December 2016.
He is also into photography and looks up to the works of the late photographer Ante Badzim from Sydney.
V’s Instagram has a reach of 8.4 million followers.
Jimin: Contemporary and cultural dancer
Born in Busan on October 13, 1995, Park Jimin, is referred to as “Mochi” by ARMYs because of his cute and chubby cheeks. English talk show host James Corden further popularized this nickname by calling Jimin “Baby Mochi” in a February 2020 episode of Carpool Karaoke on “The Late Late Show with James Corden.”
Besides his great singing voice, Jimin has a background in contemporary, cultural, modern, and street dance. Says Alecks, ”Prior to his debut, Jimin was deciding whether to go with "Baby G," "Baby J," or "Young Kid" for his stage name. In the end, he chose to stick with his real name.”
Jimin currently has 7.5 million followers on Instagram.
BTS breaks records with “Dynamite”
In August 2020, BTS released its first-ever full English track titled “Dynamite,” which garnered over 100 million views within 24 hours on Youtube.
Because of the song’s success, BTS was nominated in the 63rd Grammy Awards for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance alongside notable artists like Justin Bieber and Quavo, Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, and Taylor Swift and Bon Iver, to name a few.
Got major LSS from listening to “Dynamite”? Now that you know the BTS members a little better, you can sing along with their hit song and identify the BTS members in the video while you do! Let’s try it, shall we?
Dynamite
[Jungkook]
'Cause I, I, I'm in the stars tonight
So watch me bring the fire and set the night alight
[Jungkook]
Shoes on, get up in the morn'
Cup of milk, let's rock and roll
King Kong, kick the drum
Rolling onlikeaRolling Stone
Sing songwhen I'm walkin'home
Jump up to the top, LeBron
Ding-dong, call me on my phone
Ice tea and a game of ping pong
[RM, J-Hope]
This is gettin' heavy, can you hear the bass boom? I'm ready (Woo-hoo)
Life is sweet as honey, yeah, this beat cha-ching like money, huh
Disco overload, I'm into that, I'm good to go
I'm diamond, you know I glow up
Hey, so let's go
[Jungkook, Jimin]
'Cause I, I, I'm in the stars tonight
So watch me bring the fire and set the night alight (Hey)
Shinin' through the city with a little funk and soul
So I'ma light it up like dynamite, woah-oh-oh
[V, RM]
Bring a friend, join the crowd, whoever wanna come along
Word up, talk the talk, just move like we off the wall
Day or night, the sky's alight, so we dance to the break of dawn (Hey)
Ladies and gentlemen, I got the medicine so you should keep ya eyes on the ball
[Suga, Jimin, RM]
Huh, this is gettin' heavy, can you hear the bass boom? I'm ready (Woo-hoo)
Life is sweet as honey, yeah, this beat cha-ching like money, huh
Disco overload, I'm into that, I'm good to go
I'm diamond, you know I glow up
Let's go
[Jungkook, V]
'Cause I, I, I'm in the stars tonight
So watch me bring the fire and set the night alight (Hey)
Shinin' through the city with a little funk and soul
So I'ma light it up like dynamite, woah-oh-oh
[Jungkook, Jimin, Jin]
Dyn-na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na, life is dynamite
Dyn-na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na, life is dynamite
Shinin' through the city with a little funk and soul
So I'ma light it up like dynamite, woah-oh-oh
[Jungkook, J-Hope, Jimin, V]
Dyn-na-na-na, na-na, na-na, ayy
Dyn-na-na-na, na-na, na-na, ayy
Dyn-na-na-na, na-na, na-na, ayy
Light it up like dynamite
Dyn-na-na-na, na-na, na-na, ayy
Dyn-na-na-na, na-na, na-na, ayy
Dyn-na-na-na, na-na, na-na, ayy
Light it up like dynamite
This article originally appeared on OneLife.PH
