Talking about BTS is not easy, especially when trying to explain why seven young men who began their career in South Korea became one of the world's best-known groups. For me, getting to know BTS has meant gradually discovering seven completely different people, each with his own story, character, insecurities, dreams, and understanding of music.
When you get to know them beyond the photographs, stages, and major events, you begin discovering something different. There are RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, but before being BTS they were seven young men who had to fight to find their place.
Some came to music very young, others found their path almost by chance, and several faced moments of great uncertainty before knowing what awaited them.
How BTS's story began
BTS debuted in June 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment, a company then far from the size and influence it would have years later. The group began with a style strongly shaped by hip-hop, but over time broadened its sound to become a group able to move between pop, R&B, rap, and other styles.
Thinking of those early years, I find it curious to remember that no one could know how far they would go. They did not have the fame they have now and had to work for years to get audiences to take them seriously.
Interestingly, their personal stories began long before BTS.
RM, the leader who learned to grow alongside the others
RM, whose real name is Kim Namjoon, has always seemed one of the most thoughtful members to me. He has a particular way of speaking and observing things, apparent even when he is chatting quietly with the others.
Before BTS, he was already involved in rap. His talent attracted Big Hit's attention, and he became one of the project's first members. In fact, the group's initial formation was closely linked to rap, and RM played an important role in that process.
Over the years, he had to assume an enormous responsibility. He was not only a member but also the leader of a group acquiring an international popularity none of them could have imagined.
One thing I like most about RM is that he has never tried to hide his insecurities. He has often spoken about personal growth, feeling lost, and the need to learn self-acceptance. His 2018 speech at the United Nations became precisely one of the moments that best represent that part of his personality.
He also has a side closely connected to art. He is known for visiting museums and exhibitions and for his deep interest in literature and other cultural expressions. That curiosity is reflected in his way of speaking and understanding music.
Jin, the eldest who always ends up making everyone laugh
Jin, whose name is Kim Seokjin, arrived at Big Hit through a rather unexpected path. He was studying acting and was approached by someone connected to the company while out on the street. That opportunity ultimately changed his life completely.
Within BTS, he is the oldest member and often behaves exactly as you might imagine the eldest brother in a large family would. He likes joking, teasing the others, and making the group laugh.
One of his best-known qualities is his sense of humor. The "Worldwide Handsome" persona became one of his most famous jokes, but behind that confidence is also an artist who had to work hard to improve.
Jin also has a very special relationship with cooking and food. Over the years, he has shown his enjoyment of cooking and sharing food with the other members on various programs. His love of cooking is one of those sides that helps us know him much more closely.
And something that has always struck me about Jin is how he has cared for his relationship with the younger members. He can tease them during an interview and, at the same time, worry about them as any older brother would.
SUGA, BTS's rawest and most honest side
SUGA, whose real name is Min Yoongi, has a particularly interesting story. Before BTS, he was already involved in rap and music production in Daegu.
He used the name Gloss and lived a very different life from that of an international star.
He came to Seoul intending to pursue music and during his early years had to work extremely hard to support himself. His story was not easy, and that is precisely why many of his songs have such a direct tone.
SUGA has never been afraid to speak about his difficult moments. His lyrics have addressed pressure, anxiety, exhaustion, ambition, disappointments, and the difficulties of pursuing a dream.
As a producer and songwriter, he also became one of BTS's most important creative figures. He developed a solo career under the name Agust D too.
When I think of him, I always have the impression of someone who observes much more than he says. He does not need to attract attention all the time. His personality is more reserved, and perhaps that is precisely why his words often carry so much weight.
j-hope, the man who brings the group's energy
Jung Hoseok, better known as j-hope, has always had a very strong relationship with dance. Before becoming a BTS member, he was already recognized for his dancing skills.
Seeing him onstage, you immediately understand why he earned that place in the group. He has a distinctive energy and a way of moving that makes it impossible not to watch him.
But something not everyone may perceive is the level of discipline behind that joy. His smile and good humor are part of his personality, but there is also an artist extremely demanding of himself.
The other members have often spoken of j-hope's positivity and how he can change the atmosphere when things become difficult. That quality made him a very important part of the group.
He has also shown he can stand perfectly well on his own as a solo artist. His project Jack In The Box revealed a much more experimental, personal side of his music.
Jimin, the dancer who turned every performance into a story
Jimin, whose full name is Park Jimin, studied dance before joining BTS, and that training is constantly evident in his performances.
Before debuting, he studied in Busan and excelled in contemporary dance. His teacher encouraged him to audition, and he eventually came to Big Hit.
When you see him perform, you understand that he does not interpret songs only with his voice. His whole body is part of the performance.
Jimin is also known for his enormous personal expectations. He has often spoken about his insecurities and desire to improve. Even when praised, he tends to think about what he could do better.
That combination of sensitivity and perfectionism is one of the qualities that strikes me most about him.
Offstage, he also has a rather affectionate personality. His friendship with V is particularly well known, and they have shared a very close relationship for years.
V, one of the most unpredictable members
Kim Taehyung, known artistically as V, came to BTS in a rather curious way.
Originally, he accompanied a friend to an audition in Daegu and ended up being the one who attracted the company's attention. That seemingly chance situation became the start of a career that would take him to stages worldwide.
V has always seemed difficult to categorize to me. He has a spontaneous personality and a very distinctive artistic sensitivity.
He also has one of BTS's most recognizable voices. His low tone gives him a strong identity, especially noticeable in songs where he can show a more relaxed register.
Over the years, he has also developed a strong interest in art, photography, fashion, and music from different eras.
His solo project, especially the album Layover, revealed a more intimate version of him. There, he showed an inclination toward calmer sounds close to jazz and R&B.
Jung Kook, the youngest who grew up in front of everyone
Jung Kook, whose real name is Jeon Jungkook, began his adventure with BTS very young.
After participating in the program Superstar K, he attracted interest from different companies. He eventually chose Big Hit, and one reason he has shared is that RM impressed him.
That means he practically grew up within the group. Fans have had the opportunity to watch him go from teenager to adult in front of the cameras.
That is why his evolution is particularly interesting.
Jung Kook was always considered a member with many skills. He sings, dances, practices different activities, and has an enormous ability to adapt to different styles.
But there is also a more reserved, hardworking side, very apparent when he talks about himself. His bandmates have repeatedly highlighted his perseverance.
His solo career confirmed something already visible within BTS: he can build an identity of his own without needing to separate emotionally from the group.
Seven personalities who learned to live together
One thing I like most about BTS is that they do not always seem to agree.
And that is precisely what makes their relationship more believable.
During their early years, they shared rooms, meals, training, trips, concerts, and practically every important moment of their lives. That means they had to learn to live together even when they had differences.
They have themselves told stories about small arguments, jokes that got out of hand, and moments when they had to learn to understand one another.
Over time, they developed a relationship much more like that of a family.
Jin became the older brother. RM often took on the mediator's role. SUGA brought his practicality. j-hope became a constant source of energy. Jimin brought sensitivity. V added spontaneity, and Jung Kook grew up surrounded by them all.
And I think that mix is one reason BTS worked so well.
BTS's music and the stories they wanted to tell
BTS never limited itself to love or romantic relationships.
Very early on, they began using their songs to speak about youth, social pressure, dreams, failure, identity, and the difficulties of growing up.
Over time, their themes became even more personal.
The Love Yourself trilogy addressed self-love and acceptance. Map of the Soul explored different aspects of personality and identity. During the pandemic, the group also released songs that sought to convey some joy amid a difficult time for millions.
That musical evolution was important because it allowed different generations and audiences to find something to identify with.
BTS and ARMY
You cannot talk about BTS without mentioning ARMY.
The relationship between the group and its fans grew impressively. The members have never presented their fans as people who simply buy records or attend concerts. For them, ARMY became an important part of the group's story.
BTS also used its influence to discuss self-esteem and emotional health. Its Love Myself campaign with UNICEF became one of the most visible examples of that intention.
Their public speeches also helped establish that image of artists who do not try to appear perfect all the time.
What changed when BTS became a worldwide phenomenon
There is a moment in BTS's story when everything changed.
They went from a group known mainly within South Korea to artists recognized worldwide.
They appeared at major international ceremonies, topped charts, filled stadiums, and began receiving a kind of attention few groups had experienced.
But that fame also meant enormous pressure.
Suddenly, their personal lives began to be observed constantly. Every word, photograph, and decision could become news.
And that also affected their growth as people.
BTS after becoming adults
Over the years, each member began developing interests and projects of his own.
RM found more room to explore his relationship with art. Jin delved further into his individual projects. SUGA developed his work as a producer even more. j-hope experimented with new sounds and concepts. Jimin built a more intimate musical identity. V revealed another dimension of his artistic sensitivity, and Jung Kook began working with an even wider international audience.
All that allowed something important to be confirmed.
BTS does not depend on all seven doing exactly the same thing all the time.
Each member can grow individually and still remain part of the group's collective story.
The return and a new chapter
BTS's most recent chapter has been particularly interesting because the seven have had time to mature separately.
After the years devoted to individual projects and the obligations they had to fulfill, the group's return has also meant reconnecting from another perspective.
They are no longer the same young men who began in 2013.
They are now adult men who have traveled an extraordinary career and know themselves much better.
That inevitably changes the music and how they relate to each other.
The most interesting thing will be observing what happens when those seven individual versions become BTS again.
What BTS means to me
After learning their stories, I think it would be too simple to say BTS is just a K-pop band.
For me, BTS is the story of seven people who had to learn to know themselves while the whole world began watching them.
It is the story of RM and his way of reflecting on life, Jin and his humor, SUGA and his honesty, j-hope and his energy, Jimin and his sensitivity, V and his artistic personality, and Jung Kook growing up in front of millions.
But it is also the story of seven people who made mistakes, argued, laughed, supported each other, and matured together.
And that is what I like most when I think of them.
The major stages, awards, number ones, and records are part of their story, but they are not the whole story.
Behind all that remain those seven young men who once came to Seoul with different dreams and ultimately built something none of them could imagine.
That is why, when I talk about BTS, I do not think only of the global stars we know today.
I think of RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook as seven people who found a way to grow together and turn their differences into a strength.
And perhaps that is why, after so many years, BTS still has something to tell.
