Jungkook (BTS)

Jeon Jung-kook (Korean: 전정국), popularly known as Jungkook (stylized as Jung Kook), is a South Korean singer, songwriter and dancer. He rose to prominence as a member and vocalist of the South Korean boy band BTS. He has performed three solo songs as part of BTS’ discography— “Begin” in 2016, “Euphoria” in 2018, and “My Time” in 2020—all of which charted on South Korea’s Gaon Digital Chart. He also recorded the soundtrack song “Stay Alive” for the BTS-based webtoon 7Fates: Chakho.

In 2022, Jungkook featured on American singer Charlie Puth’s single “Left and Right”, which peaked at number 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Later that year, he became the first South Korean artist to release an official song for the FIFA World Cup soundtrack with “Dreamers”, which he subsequently performed at the 2022 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony. In 2023, Jungkook released his debut solo single “Seven” featuring Latto, which broke numerous chart and streaming records. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, the Global 200, and the Global Excl. U.S. charts, making him the first Korean solo artist to do so, and eventually became the fastest song in history to surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify. His follow-up single “3D”, featuring Jack Harlow, debuted at number five on both the Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart, making Jungkook the first South Korean solo artist to achieve two consecutive top-five entries on the latter.

Jungkook Details:

Jungkook Early Life and Education:

Jeon Jung-kook was born on September 1, 1997, in Busan, South Korea. His family consists of his parents and an elder brother. He attended Baekyang Elementary and Middle School in Busan. When he became a trainee, he transferred to Singu Middle School in Seoul.

In 2011, Jungkook auditioned for the South Korean talent show Superstar K during its auditions in Daegu. Though he was not selected, he received casting offers from seven entertainment companies. He eventually chose to become a trainee under Big Hit Entertainment after seeing RM, now his fellow band member and leader in BTS, perform. To work on his dance skills in preparation for his debut, he went to Los Angeles during the summer of 2012 to receive dance training from Movement Lifestyle. In June 2012, he appeared in Jo Kwon’s “I’m Da One” music video and was a backup dancer for Glam before his debut.

He graduated from the School of Performing Arts Seoul, an arts high school, in 2017. In November 2016, he decided to forgo taking the CSATs, Korea’s nationwide university entrance exam. In March 2022, he received his degree from Global Cyber University’s Department of Broadcasting and Entertainment. He was awarded the President’s Award, the school’s highest honor.

Jungkook Career:

Jungkook debuted as a member of BTS on June 12, 2013, with the single “2 Cool 4 Skool.” He has since showcased his talents as a singer and producer within the group. Notably, Jungkook has sung three solo songs under BTS, including “Begin,” “Euphoria,” and “My Time,” each offering a glimpse into his personal experiences and emotions. “Euphoria” and “My Time” hold records as the longest-charting solo tracks by a K-pop singer on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart.

In addition to singing, Jungkook has contributed to BTS’ discography as a producer, notably co-producing “Love is Not Over” and “Magic Shop.” He received the fifth-class Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit from the President of South Korea in October 2018, recognizing his contributions to culture and society. Furthermore, in July 2021, he was appointed as a Special Presidential Envoy for Future Generations and Culture alongside his bandmates, tasked with leading global initiatives and enhancing South Korea’s diplomatic efforts.

Jungkook’s career has seen significant growth and diversification since his debut with BTS. In addition to his contributions to the group’s music, he has participated in various projects and collaborations. Notably, he joined the “One Dream, One Korea” campaign in 2015, showcasing his support for peace and unity through a collaborative song release. He has also appeared on television shows like Flower Crew and Celebrity Bromance, and competed on King of Mask Singer.

Jungkook’s collaborations extend to international artists as well, including a special duet performance with Charlie Puth at the MBC Plus X Genie Music Awards in 2018. He released self-produced songs like “Still With You” and “My You,” showcasing his musical talents and connecting with fans through SoundCloud releases.

His solo ventures continued to gain momentum, with his soundtrack contribution to the BTS-based webtoon “7Fates: Chakho,” titled “Stay Alive,” marking his first solo entry on the Hot 100. He further solidified his solo career with the release of singles like “Dreamers,” performed at the opening ceremony of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Jungkook’s influence expanded beyond music as he became the global ambassador for Calvin Klein in 2023. He transitioned his SoundCloud releases into official singles available on streaming platforms worldwide, and debuted his solo single “Seven,” featuring Latto, which topped various charts including the Hot 100 and the Global 200.

His subsequent releases, including the single “3D” featuring Jack Harlow and the collaboration “Too Much” with the Kid Laroi and Central Cee, continued his chart-topping success. Jungkook’s solo journey culminated in the release of his debut solo album “Golden” and the single “Standing Next to You” in November 2023, solidifying his position as a powerhouse solo artist in the global music scene.

Jungkook Personal Life (Girlfriend):

Since 2018, Jungkook has lived in Hannam-dong, Seoul, South Korea with his bandmates. In July 2019, he purchased an apartment in Yongsan District, Seoul worth ₩4 billion, which he gifted to his older brother in December 2020. As of July 2021, Jungkook’s net worth was estimated to be US$20 million.

Jungkook’s father is Christian and his mother is Buddhist, but he has stated that he has no particular religious affiliation.

As with all the BTS members, Jungkook is currently single but has previously been rumored to date K-pop stars Jeong Ye In of the group ‘Lovelyz’, and Jung Chae Yeon from ‘DIA’ as well as a 2015 rumor that he dated CUBE trainee Ko So-hyun.

Jungkook Military service:

On November 22, 2023, Big Hit announced through Weverse that Jungkook, along with bandmates RM, Jimin, and V, had started the enlistment process to carry out his mandatory military service. Jungkook confirmed in a subsequent post that he would enlist in December. He began his military service on December 12.

Jungkook Discography:

Studio albums

• Golden (2023)

Singles

• “Perfect Christmas” (with Jo Kwon, Lim Jeong-hee, Joohee, and RM)
• “Still with You”
• “Stay Alive”
• “My You”
• “Dreamers”
• “Seven” (featuring Latto)
• “3D” (featuring Jack Harlow)
• “Too Much” (with the Kid Laroi and Central Cee)
• “Standing Next to You”

Jungkook Filmography:

Jungkook TV Series / Web Series: