Many child artists achieve popularity, wealth, and fame early in their careers thanks to their acting, singing, and dancing talents. Their fans adore them, and success seems to embrace their lives. However, only a handful make the most of that luck. Many child artists struggle to maintain their early success, with some succumbing to the pitfalls of fame, such as substance abuse. Jeon Jungkook, a member of the globally acclaimed band BTS, is one such artist who achieved fortune and fame at an early age yet has managed to stay grounded. Jungkook, often called JK, exemplifies a character who navigates personal and professional life without being blinded by fame and wealth.
Jungkook’s debut solo album, Golden, and a third single, “Standing Next to You,” were released on November 3, 2023. Golden set new all-time opening day and opening week sales records, with over 2.1 and 2.4 million copies sold, respectively, and became the first album by a South Korean solo artist to surpass 2.5 million sales. In the US, it debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, making Jungkook one of the highest-charting South Korean solo artists in Billboard chart history and the first to sell over 200,000 copies within a week.
The Remarkable Journey of Jungkook: BTS’s Golden Maknae
Jungkook joined BTS at 15 (Korean age 15, international age 13). Before that, he participated in the Busan Superstar K program but did not qualify for the final round. However, this became a turning point in his life. Seven of South Korea’s leading talent management companies recognized his potential and invited him to join their ranks as an idol trainee. Little Jungkook chose Big Hit Entertainment, inspired by Kim Namjoon (then known as Runch Randa), who would later become the leader of BTS.
Early Life and Joining BTS
In 2011, Jungkook moved to Seoul to start his idol training and attend school. In 2012, he travelled to the United States to study dance, which he grew to love so much that he initially wanted to pursue a career as a dancer. However, after receiving advice from fellow trainee Park Ji-min (who also became a BTS member), he decided to continue his idol training. At 16, Jungkook debuted as BTS’s lead singer on June 13, 2013.
The Journey with BTS
As the youngest member of BTS, Jungkook found it challenging to live apart from his parents and older brother. However, the love, brotherhood, and support he received from his fellow members greatly comforted him. Jungkook often mentions that the BTS members raised him and positively impacted his personal and professional growth. He once said that the qualities of all seven members are reflected in him and dedicated his emotional song, “Begin,” to his team.
Living together in a small apartment, practising daily, and attending school, the seven members of BTS formed a close bond that became the foundation of their success. This strong camaraderie has remained unshaken even after a decade in the music industry.
Stage Names and Nicknames
Jungkook uses the stage name ‘Jungkook’ and is also known by various nicknames given by his bandmates and fans, including JK, Jungkookie, Kookie, Golden Maknae, and Bunny. RM, the leader of BTS, coined the nickname ‘Golden Maknae’ due to Jungkook’s exceptional skills in singing, dancing, rapping, and other talents. Before settling on “Jungkook” as his stage name, he considered using ‘Seagull’ in homage to his hometown, Busan.
Education
Jungkook attended school in Busan before moving to Seoul for his idol training. He later enrolled in Seoul’s School of Performing Arts (SOPA) and graduated in 2017. Despite his demanding schedule, Jungkook pursued higher education, completing a degree in Broadcasting and Entertainment from Global Cyber University in 2022.
Career Achievements
BTS, including Jungkook, has achieved unprecedented success. They hold around 26 Guinness World Records and are the highest Daesang award winners. They are the only artists after Michael Jackson to earn five No. 1 Billboard ranks within 10 months and are two-time Grammy nominees. Time magazine named them among the 100 most influential people in the world, and they have addressed the UN General Assembly twice.
In 2021, BTS was granted diplomatic passports and participated in the UN SGD meeting as presidential envoys. Some of their notable awards include:
- 33 Mnet Asian Music Awards
- 29 Melon Music Awards
- 24 Golden Disc Awards
- 20 Seoul Music Awards
- 6 Korean Music Awards
- 19 Gaon Music Awards
- 6 American Music Awards
- 6 MTV Video Music Awards
- Billboard Top Social Artist Award for five consecutive years
The short films he shoots, edits, and directs are called GCF (Golden Closet Films). He is also a talented cinematographer, painter and director who worked as the music video director for the BTS song “Life Goes On”. He is also a gifted lyricist and a music producer.
Individual Contributions
Jungkook, the youngest member of BTS, received the Hwagwan Cultural Merit Award, the highest honour for a Korean citizen. He is known as the “Sold Out King” due to his influence on product sales. Besides his musical talents, Jungkook excels in sports and painting. His short films, known as Golden Closet Films (GCF), showcase his cinematographer skills. He directed the music video for BTS’s “Life Goes On” and has contributed as a lyricist and music producer.
Philanthropy
Jungkook, like his BTS teammates, engages in various philanthropic activities. They donate to children, hospitals, and disaster victims without publicizing their contributions. Jungkook once attributed BTS’s success to hard work and luck.
Jungkook’s Solo Career:
2015–Present: Solo Activities
Jungkook, the youngest member of BTS, has made significant contributions to the band and carved out an impressive solo career. His journey began in September 2015 when he participated in the “One Dream, One Korea” campaign. This song collaboration, alongside various Korean artists, commemorated the Korean War and was performed at the One K Concert in Seoul on October 15, 2015.
In the following years, Jungkook appeared in several TV shows. He was cast in the pilot episode of Flower Crew and featured on Celebrity Bromance. He also competed on King of Mask Singer under the alias “Fencing Man”, showcasing his diverse talents beyond singing.
A significant moment in his solo career came on November 6, 2018, when Jungkook performed a special duet of “We Don’t Talk Anymore” with American singer Charlie Puth at the MBC Plus X Genie Music Awards. This highly acclaimed performance highlighted his ability to collaborate with international artists.
Still With You
Jungkook continued to release solo music, including the self-produced song “Still With You” on SoundCloud on June 4, 2020, as part of BTS’s annual debut anniversary celebrations. In February 2022, he sang “Stay Alive,” the soundtrack for the BTS-based webtoon 7Fates: Chakho, produced by his bandmate Suga. This song marked his first solo entry on the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at number 95, and became the first Korean soundtrack to debut on the UK Singles Chart at number 89.
“My You”
Further showcasing his solo endeavors, Jungkook released “My You,” another self-produced song, for BTS’s ninth anniversary on June 12, 2022. He also collaborated with Charlie Puth again on the single “Left and Right,” released later that month.
“Dreamers”
In November 2022, Jungkook released the single “Dreamers” ahead of his performance at the opening ceremony of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He made history as the first Korean artist to sing an official theme for the World Cup and perform at its opening ceremony.
Jungkook’s solo debut album, GOLDEN
Jungkook’s solo debut album, GOLDEN, has become a record-breaking success and the most successful male debut album of the decade. GOLDEN set a new benchmark by achieving the largest debut ever for an Asian artist on Spotify’s global charts, with an impressive 39.6 million streams. The album topped the United World Chart, entered the Top 10 in 26 countries, and secured the No. 1 spot in seven: Belgium, France, Japan, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, and South Korea. In South Korea, it set a new record for the biggest solo debut on Hanteo, selling 2.1 million copies.
In the UK, GOLDEN debuted at No. 3, marking the highest-charting album by a Korean solo artist and maintaining a strong chart presence. In the U.S., it debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, with 210,200 album-equivalent units sold, including 164,800 pure sales. This made it the largest debut for an Asian solo artist in U.S. chart history, with 244,000 copies sold so far. GOLDEN ranked as the 10th best-selling CD album of 2023 and the 14th most-consumed album across all formats according to Billboard. Globally, IFPI ranked GOLDEN as the seventh best-selling album of 2023, with 2.7 million copies sold worldwide.
“Seven”
His debut solo single, “Seven,” featuring American rapper Latto, was released on July 14, 2023, and debuted at number one on the Hot 100, the Global 200, and the Global Excl. US charts, making him the first Korean solo artist to top all three charts simultaneously. The song became the fastest in history, surpassing 1 billion streams on Spotify.
“3D”
Jungkook continued to make headlines with his solo activities. He headlined the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park, New York City, on September 23, 2023. His second solo single, “3D,” featuring Jack Harlow, was released on September 29, debuting at number five on both the Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart, making him the first Korean solo artist to earn two top-five singles on the latter.
“Too Much”
In October 2023, he collaborated with The Kid Laroi and Central Cee on the single “Too Much,” which debuted at number 10 in the UK, making him the first Korean solo artist to achieve three top-10 singles in UK chart history.
“Never Let Go”
On June 2, 2024, Big Hit announced Jungkook’s single, “Never Let Go,” as part of BTS’s 11th anniversary celebrations. Released on June 7, it marked his first project post-enlistment.
Artistry
Jungkook is renowned for his soulful tenor voice. Rolling Stone’s Brian Hiatt describes him as “an extraordinarily soulful tenor,” while Kim Min-sook of Reputation praised his “soft” voice and stable intonation even while dancing. Consequence’s Mary Siroky noted his “clear, dexterous voice built for pop music,” and music critic Kim Young-dae highlighted his strong vocal performances in BTS songs like “Danger,” “Butterfly,” “Autumn Leaves,” “Lost,” and his solo song “Euphoria.”
Rolling Stone 200 Greatest Singers of All Time in 2023
Rolling Stone ranked Jungkook 191th on their list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time in 2023, calling him “an extremely gifted singer” who “hits high notes with ease and harmonizes with his BTS members effortlessly.“
In January 2024, Jungkook was promoted to a full member of the Korea Music Copyright Association, further solidifying his contributions to music.
Jungkook’s solo career is a testament to his immense talent, hard work, and dedication, making him a significant figure in both BTS and the global music industry.
Ambassadorships
Calvin Klein’s global ambassador
In March 2023, Jungkook was announced as the global ambassador for Calvin Klein.
Re-cap: BTS Jungkook journey
Jungkook’s journey from a young boy in Busan with a dream to one of the most influential global artists is a story of relentless hard work, exceptional talent, and unwavering dedication. His solo career, marked by numerous milestones and record-breaking achievements, showcases his versatility as an artist. From his early training and debut with BTS to his groundbreaking solo endeavours, Jungkook has continuously pushed the boundaries of being a global pop star.
His soulful voice, impressive dance skills, and creative contributions have earned him individual acclaim and strengthened BTS’s impact worldwide. As he continues to evolve and innovate, Jungkook remains a beacon of inspiration for aspiring artists, embodying the essence of perseverance, humility, and passion. His journey is far from over, and the world eagerly anticipates the next chapter in this Golden Maknae’s extraordinary career.
BTS septet, including Jungkook and his fellow members, has revolutionized the global music industry, breaking numerous records and earning countless accolades. Their humility, dedication, and passion for music inspire fans worldwide. Jungkook’s unwavering commitment to personal growth and exemplary character make him a role model for future generations.