JUNG KOOK from BTS shared a candid take on growth, saying he doesn’t see himself as a pop star just yet.
In an interview released April 20 on Rolling Stone’s YouTube channel, JUNG KOOK spoke about his place as a solo artist. “I’m grateful people see me that way, but I don’t feel it yet. I want to do even better so that one day I can feel, ‘I am a star,’” he said, pointing to English fluency as his benchmark.
“If I can naturally make small talk in English, I think that will be a breakthrough,” he said. “I’ve tried almost every English-learning app, from Duolingo on, but consistency is what matters. I’m working so native speakers won’t feel uncomfortable when they hear me,” he added, acknowledging the pressure around language.
In 2023, JUNG KOOK topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 with Seven (feat. Latto). He also landed high on the charts with 3D (feat. Jack Harlow) and Standing Next to You, earning strong solo results.
On balancing group and solo work, JUNG KOOK said, “I don’t overthink things, so I enjoyed the process more than I felt stressed. I did what I wanted to do, and it was fun.” On his relationship with the members, he added, “Everyone has different speeds and tastes, but working together and performing on stage is what makes us a team,” emphasizing steady teamwork amid change.
Hooligan, a track on BTS’s fifth full-length album ARIRANG released on the 20th of last month, features JUNG KOOK’s participation and has been well received by both critics and fans.
“The flow came to me the moment I first heard it,” he said. “When the members and producers reacted that it felt fresh, I felt a huge sense of reward.” Asked if he plans to turn his memories into songs, JUNG KOOK joked, “Maybe not―I don’t have that much storage space in my memory.”
As the youngest member of BTS, JUNG KOOK wrapped the interview on a positive note: “It’s a role I’ve been used to my whole life, so it feels comfortable.”
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)