Almost a decade has passed since seven young boys from South Korea took to the stage and debuted as 방탄소년단, aka the Bulletproof Boy Scouts. From the 15-year-old maknae, Jung Kook, to the eldest member Jin who was only 20 years old at the time, they were desperate to prove themselves both on and off the stage. Yet, never in their wildest dreams, could they have imagined the heights that they would reach in becoming the BTS of today. Not only did they outgrow their teen years, but the depth and breadth of their collective experiences has given them unprecedented wisdom beyond their years.
Now that they are each focused on their solo pursuits before transitioning into their military service, the members’ individual colors, styles, and preferences as artists have moved to center stage. Despite lingering concerns about their respective solo albums and how those would be received by fans and the general public, they are finally creating music that allows them to explore all facets of themselves. J-hope accomplished this with his Jack In The Box album, allowing darker elements of his artistry to unashamedly come through. J-hope, known for his bright and bubbly personality, disclosed that he too has a side which could not necessarily be shared when performing as BTS. The fact that he did all of this while headlining Lollapalooza to a crowd approximating 100,000, is astounding and a testament to his growth—not just as a member of BTS but as an artist in his own right.
RM gave us Indigo with 10 distinct tracks, each of them a different genre, while also featuring an assortment of artists that no one could have predicted. Throughout his lyrics, he too was able to release feelings and experiences that for a long time had been restrained or contained. RM also matured in other ways, such as the elevation of his role as an art influencer, not just in South Korea but globally. His maturity transpired in his ability to move through his struggles, eventually reaching the point where he could continue without feeling the pressure or need to keep looking back at his past self with regret.
In “Set Me Free Pt.2” Jimin’s melodic rap caught many fans by surprise, but not as much as his dynamic choreography, tasteful body art, and expletives that made it onto the album. Regarding Jimin’s dancing, choreographer/dancer Clay Boonthanakit highlighted the maturity that Jimin exudes in his dance moves, once again reminding us of how Jimin is able to transport the viewer on an emotional journey through his technical ability, artistry, and storytelling, all the while maintaining an intimate connection to and with his audience.
Agust D, aka SUGA aka Min Yoongi, is making waves in the music industry as he launches his solo world tour in the USA. Fans are literally cheering him on with every ounce of their being, including an inexhaustible supply of ‘woot woots’ that took him completely by surprise. In all fairness though, the ineffable Agust D probably started the ball rolling with his very candid and raw stage demeanor where he has let go of all the K-pop niceties. “Haegeum” isn’t just the title song on his album—it’s a way of being. As shared on IU’s Palette, SUGA and IU discussed the ambiguity of its meaning, the notion of unlocking our potentiality by breaking free of those things previously forbidden. Where SUGA was once the BTS member who preferred to support his members from the sidelines (except for when he was in his element of rapping), this Chapter 2 version of SUGA has given fans powerful ‘you only live once’ rockstar vibes.
V’s maturity has shone through in other ways and if you’re a fan of the Korean reality show, “Jinny’s Kitchen” which just wrapped up its tenth episode of the series, you’ll agree wholeheartedly. Prior to that show, V was known to be one of the members who wasn’t the strongest in his cooking skills, notwithstanding the couple of dishes that he could attempt. So to see him becoming a budding chef by learning new skills in food preparation and then going on to cook a variety of dishes every week alongside his Wooga squad friend and mentor, Park Seojoon, has been a treat for his fans. On another note, V is known for his striking features, and in some of his more recent photoshoots, it is clear to see through the camera lens that he has also matured in the way in which he presents himself photographically.
As for our eldest member Jin, just the mere fact that he is now serving in the military and very quickly took on a leadership role speaks to his growing maturity. Although ARMYs have always known of his leadership qualities within BTS, to see Jin also physically become more fit and healthy is something fans may not be accustomed to. In fact, even all of his BTS members were pleasantly surprised by his physique when he arrived for j-hope’s enlistment day so that too speaks volumes about how much he has grown in such a short time. As always, we wish him well in his military service and look forward to his safe return upon completion.
Our final member is of course our maknae. While Jung Kook hasn’t been as visible as the other members, fans know that he is currently working on his album. When his surprise Weverse lives happen, fans are still showing up by the millions just to share some time with him. Jung Kook’s growth and maturity shine through in other ways though, such as when he traveled by himself to help launch the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. To travel so far without his members by his side may have given him flashback memories of the time he traveled to America for dance instruction. However, back then he was much younger and hadn’t yet debuted as a member of BTS. This time, much older, he was part of the opening ceremony, performing a song from the official World Cup soundtrack, singing entirely in English, and representing BTS – the global superstars.
For fans who have been with BTS since Day 1 (or even earlier) and are still here, supporting and loving them in 2023, they will be able to attest to the growth that has taken place over the years. For those fans too, have grown and matured alongside the members and as the official OG ARMYs, just imagine the stories they could tell. So we’d like to celebrate the ARMYs who were there from the very beginning. As for ARMYs who were introduced to BTS throughout the different eras, we’re sure you’ve also seen just how much the seven members have grown into amazing young men. Soon, the remaining five members will fulfill their military service commitments and when they finally reunite in 2025 as the ‘seven’ they were always meant to be, we can only imagine what that moment will feel like—for them, and for ARMYs.
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Written By: Shelley
Edited By: Aury
Checked By: Esma
