Introducing the Team

In 2010, South Korean producer Bang Sihyuk set out to assemble a Korean hip-hop group he would call the "bulletproof boy scouts' (BTS for short). Bang chose “bulletproof” to symbolize the young talents' ability to withstand the pressures of the world. He hoped to cultivate a group that unapologetically displayed their authentic personalities, and that exemplified to the youth how one can remain secure in one's identity amidst societal prejudices. With the addition of new members up until 2012, the project transformed from a ragtag crew of rappers into a hip-hop infused idol group. BTS debuted on June 13, 2013; the septet’s entrance into the music realm unfolded a year after PSY’s Gangnam Style became the first K-Pop track to send the U.S. music market into a frenzy. Coming from a start-up company, the members used social media to transmit their message, eventually reaching the ears of millions around the world.

Kim Namjoon (RM)

Leader, Rapper, Writer, Producer

Min Yoongi (Suga)

Rapper, Writer, Producer

Jung Hoseok (J-Hope)

Rapper, Writer, Producer

Kim Seokjin (Jin)

Vocalist, Writer

Jeon Jungkook

Vocalist, Dancer, Writer, Producer

Park Jimin

Vocalist, Dancer, Writer, Producer

Kim Taehyung (V)

Vocalist, Dancer, Writer

Stage Name: RM

Birth name: Kim Namjoon

Born in Illsan, South Korea on September 12th, 1994
the first member recruited to BTS and quickly became the leader
Prior to BTS, RM made his name known as the underground rapper "Runch Randa" (Kim).
Learned English by watching all 10 seasons of the sitcom Friends. He watched it first with Korean subtitles, then with English, and eliminated all captions for the final watch (Kim).
He released his first solo mixtape "RM" on March 17, 2015. His second mixtape called "Mono" and was released on October 28th, 2018 (Kim).
Made his official solo debut on December 2, 2022 with the full-length album Indigo.
Has co-composed/co-produced over 160 songs.
Education: Apgujeong High School; graduated from Global Cyber University with a Broadcasting and Entertainment major. Currently enrolled in Hanyang Cyber University for an MBA in Advertising & Media (Nam).

Next Member

Stage Name: Suga

Birth name: Min Yoongi

Born in Buk-gu, Daegu, South Korea. on March 9, 1993
He was the second member recruited to BTS. Suga originally joined as a producer, but later ended up in the group's lineup due to his background in rap.
Prior to BTS, Suga was active in the underground rap scene under the moniker "gloss"
Suga uses the alias Agust D for his solo works (“DT” is short for his birth place “Daegu Town”, and "Agus" is “Suga” spelled backwards)
released his first mixtape "Agust D" in 2016, his second "D-2) in 2020, and his first solo album "D-Day" in 2023.
Promoted to a full member of the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA) in January 2018, 167 songs have been attributed to Suga as a writer and composer as of June 2023 (Hareed).
Education: Apgujeong High School; graduated from Global Cyber University with a Broadcasting and Entertainment major. Currently enrolled in Hanyang Cyber University for an MBA in Advertising & Media (Nam).
He is currently working as a social service agent to fulfill his mandatory military service. According to AP News, "Local media reported Suga’s alternative service was likely related to a shoulder surgery that he underwent in 2020" (Kim).

Next Member

Stage Name: J-Hope

Birth name: Jung Hoseok

Born in Gwanju, South Korea on February 18, 1994
He was the third member recruited to BTS. known for his incredible dancing. He did not rap prior to training with the group, but RM and Suga taught him how. Now, he is a seasoned rapper (Reuters).
Education: Gwangju Global High School; graduated from Global Cyber University with a Broadcasting and Entertainment major. Currently enrolled in Hanyang Cyber University for an MBA in Advertising & Media (Nam).
J-hope released his first solo mixtape "Hope World" on March 2nd, 2018 (Reuters).
In 2022, he became the first Korean soloist to headline Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago (Reuters).
As of June 2023, 137 songs have been attributed to him as a writer and composer by KOMCA.
Currently serving as an active soldier in the South Korean military. He was recently promoted to Special Class Elite Warrior in the military, "living up to fellow bandmate Jin's challenge" (Rawat).

Next Member

Stage Name: Jin

Birth name: Kim Seokjin

Born in Anyang, Gyeonggi-do, but moved with his family to Gwacheon, Gyeonggi-do when he was one years old.
Jin is the oldest member, and was famously scouted to join the group while getting off a bus (Choi).
On October 28, 2022, Jin made his solo debut with the single "The Astronaut". However, he has also produced and written solo songs under the group's albums prior to this release.
Education: Konkuk University; Hanyang Cyber University – Films major (masters/graduate)
He is currently serving as an active-duty soldier in of the South Korean military. He was recently promoted to "elite soldier" (Kim).

Next Member

Stage Name: Jungkook

Birth name: Jeon Jungkook

Born in Busan, South Korea on September 1, 1997.
Joined BTS when he was only 13 years old.
Prior to BTS, Jungkook participated in a singing talent show that attracted the attention of various entertainment companies. Ultimately, he decided to go with the under-developed company "BigHit" because he was in awe of RM's artistry and persona (Choi).
Jungkook is known for his stunning voice, and lent it to the World Cup ceremony in Qatar where he performed a song titled "Dreamers" (2022).
Education: Seoul School of Performing Arts; currently attending Global Cyber University with a major in Broadcasting & Entertainment (Nam).

Next Member

Stage Name: Jimin

Birth name: Park Jimin

Born in Busan, South Korea (same as Jungkook) on October 13th, 1995.
Education: graduated from Global Cyber University with a Broadcasting and Entertainment major. Currently enrolled in Hanyang Cyber University for an MBA in Advertising & Media (Nam).
Prior to BTS, Jimin trained as a contemporary dancer at the Busan High School of Arts. and entered the institution at the top of his class.
The first song he ever wrote and produced (without a single co-writer) is titled "Promise" and was released on SoundCloud in 2018.
He debuted with his solo album "Face" on March 24, 2023 and his single "Like Crazy" is the only solo single from a Korean musician this year to surpass 1 million unit sales in the U.S. (Hwang)

Next Member

Stage Name: V

Birth name: Kim Taehyung

Born in Daegu, but later moved to Geochang where he spent his life until he moved to Seoul.
His father was a poor farmer that struggled to financially support the family, so V was raised by his grandmother (Jain).
He made his acting debut in the Korean drama “Hwarang” (2016-2017).
Chose the stage name V to symbolize "Victory" after being the only person to pass BigHit's audition in his hometown. He had gone to the audition on a whim to support his friend auditioning, when a talent agent asked V to audition, too.
Released his first solo album "Layover" on September 8th of 2023.
Has written original soundtracks for Korean Dramas, such as the song "Sweet Night" that he made for the show "Itaewon Class" in 2020.
Education: graduated from Global Cyber University with a Broadcasting and Entertainment major. Currently enrolled in Hanyang Cyber University for an MBA in Advertising & Media (Nam).

What they have to say about the beginning:

"I recently came across a company document from [2012,] the year before BTS debuted, in which we were debating what kind of idol group to create. It said, ‘What kind of hero is the youth of today looking for? Not someone who dogmatically preaches from above. Rather, it seems like they need a hero who can lend them a shoulder to lean on, even without speaking a single word." (JoongAng, 2018)

Bang Sihyuk, founder of BTS