BTS's Jin discusses his past, military service, and experiences with street scouting during a YouTube appearance on 'Limousine Service.'
November/20/2024 19:16
Photo=YouTube 'Limousine Service' screen capture Jin of BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan) revealed that he was scouted on the street multiple times during his trainee days. On the 19th, a video featuring Jin as a guest on 'Limousine Service' was posted on the KBS K-pop channel on YouTube. In the video, he mentioned regarding his appearance on 'Limousine Service,' 'Since I was going to release an album this time, I wanted to appear on various shows, but I thought, 'How can I satisfy the fans?' Since I couldn't find an answer, I said, 'If you all choose, I will appear unconditionally,' and among those answers was 'Limousine Service.' As the oldest member of BTS, he was the first to enlist and returned in June, reflecting on his military life, saying, 'I served as an assistant instructor at the 5th Division New Soldier Training Center in Yeongcheon-gun.' When Lee Mujin, who has not yet enlisted, jokingly said, 'It doesn't seem like you struggled that much,' Jin laughed and replied, 'You won't know until you go.' He added, 'When I was in the military, the young kids watched 'Limousine Service' a lot. There isn't much to do in the military, but watching 'Limousine Service' is free on the TV set up there, so it was very popular.' As a global idol who has stood on various stages, when asked how he compares 'Limousine Service' to the stage, he said, 'The standards of the viewers are different, but the filming site is almost the same. I felt relaxed from the moment I entered the studio of 'Limousine Service,' so you (Lee Mujin) just need to relax.' He also revealed behind-the-scenes stories about the production of his 1st solo album 'Happy,' stating, 'While I was in the military, I just made simple notes of my emotions, and I started proper preparations after being discharged. The day after my discharge, I had a performance, and I was anxious about the preparations, so I searched for songs while listening to about 1000 songs over the next 3-4 days.' He added, 'Except for the title track and the song I sang with Wendy from Red Velvet, I decided the concept and structured everything myself.' Known for his outstanding looks and called 'Worldwide Handsome,' when asked if he was scouted a lot before debuting, he replied, 'Before I became a university student, I had only been scouted once or twice. I feel sorry for my mother, but I told her I was going to a cram school or a reading room while spending hours in an internet cafe. Above all, the area I lived in had a studious atmosphere, so the scouts didn't come that far.' After entering university and becoming a trainee, he said street scouting flooded in. Jin also confessed, 'When I was a trainee, I gained 10 kg in a month. Maybe it was because of the psychology of wanting something in return; I ate a lot. By the time I finished training, I had gained 10 kg,' which drew laughter.
Related Articles
This travel report follows a 1-night, 2-day trip through Cheongju and Daejeon, starting at Cheongju International Airport. It highlights quick immigration, local food, quiet shopping streets, scenic cafes, Daejeon’s famous Sungsimdang bakery, and an easy return.
Kim E-ran’s latest novel, One of Them Is a Lie, is a bestselling Korean coming-of-age story about three high school students whose self-introductions, secrets, and family tragedies intertwine. It explores truth, lies, trauma, and the meaning of family beyond blood ties.
BTS’s world tour will be live-viewed in Japanese cinemas for the Buenos Aires and São Paulo shows. The screenings are delayed viewings, tickets cost 6,900 yen, and fanclub/mobile presales begin August 27. More details on attendee gifts will be announced later.
A woman in her 30s was sent to prosecutors without detention for allegedly using macros and accounts under family and acquaintances’ names to illegally buy about 2,600 idol concert tickets from April 2023 to March this year and resell them at a markup. She also allegedly reserved nine BTS Gwanghwamun concert tickets in February, but police caught her before resale. Police sought to preserve about 442 million won in criminal proceeds, and Korea will begin stronger penalties for illegal ticket resale on the 28th.
BTS’s Jimin gave a special moment to Olivia, a girl with a serious illness, by meeting her at a concert, giving her a keychain, patting her head, and kissing her. Moved by his kindness, fans donated more than 100 million won to a foundation supporting children with cancer.
Before BTS’s Chicago concerts, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker declared the performance dates BTS Day in Illinois, praising the group’s mental health advocacy, self-love message, charity work, and civic impact. The state expects major cultural and economic benefits from the shows.
The 2026 MTV VMA nominations were announced, drawing attention to BTS’s “SWIM,” which was nominated for Song of the Year and Best K-Pop. BLACKPINK, CORTIS, LE SSERAFIM, KATSEYE, and Jisoo and ZAYN also received multiple nominations. The awards will be held on September 27.
BTS member Jin recently shared photos on his SNS, showcasing his visit to a theme park in a casual outfit. Despite the crowd, he enjoyed his vacation without concern for onlookers. Currently, BTS is on their world tour 'ARIRANG', and their 5th full album ranks 59th on the UK Official Albums Chart, maintaining a 21-week presence.
As BTS announced they would not submit entries for the Grammys, the Recording Academy drew attention by suggesting it may review its newly created Best Asian Pop Music Performance category. CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said some artists felt the category could not represent their music and stressed the Academy would keep adapting so musicians feel respected. Billboard interpreted this as a possible restructuring of the category from next year. Mason also said the category was created to celebrate the depth, diversity, and growth of Asian pop music, not to exclude artists, and that entering genre categories does not prevent eligibility for the major general-field awards.
On the morning of the 31st, BTS members SUGA, J-HOPE, and Jimin arrived in Korea via Incheon International Airport after finishing their North America tour, 'ARIRANG'. The article includes photos from local media, and it notes that BTS also won a major award at the American Music Awards after five years.
