Triumph Of The Golden Maknae, BTS' JungKook

While his eyes sparkle under the stage light, his electrifying dance moves and pristine vocals leave the audience astonished. He once yearned for his mother’s presence, was homesick, and battled self-doubt, yet he danced through the sorrow. By utilizing his talent as a weapon against barriers, he carved the path toward a promising future, resulting in experiencing the delight of a fruitful career. He holds immense star power today and is among the brightest stars in the K-Pop constellation. Widely known as the "Golden Maknae," he, ladies and gentlemen, is the talented and marvelous BTS' JungKook (Jeon JungKook).

The Unstoppable

Despite facing all stumbling blocks, the angelic and smooth (like butter) vocals of Jeon JungKook, the youngest among the seven stars in BTS, landed him the position of the main vocalist within BTS, which is also the biggest boy group in the world. His visuals also paved the way for him to become the group's center. He left his family and moved to Seoul from Busan at 14 to audition for a show called “Super K,” and debuted as a member of BTS at 15. Doubtful of his skills as the main vocalist, he compared himself to other groups’ vocalists, hence causing him to view himself as unfit for the position. In a past interview, JungKook stated, “Since our first debut, main vocalist has been my position. The main vocals in other teams, I saw them singing well, dancing well, and they were cool and handsome. (I thought) What am I? Is it okay for me to be the main vocalist of this team?” He was young and homesick when he joined BTS, but the other six members were always there to care for him, and to assure him that he was doing exceptionally well. Although his mother wasn’t around, JungKook received the warmth of family from the members, who were always more than just groupmates to him. 

"GOLDEN" - A Megahit! 

Today, his career shines brighter than it ever has. On November 3, 2023, his debut solo album, "GOLDEN," consisting of gleaming gems, was released. The catchy tunes, soaring vocals, and consummate high notes in each and every song resulted in his album garnering recognition on reputable platforms and breaking several records. "GOLDEN" maintained chart presence on Billboard 200 for 9 consecutive weeks as of January 10, 2024, making it the longest-charting K-Pop solo album. It debuted #2 on Billboard 200 at its peak, which is also the highest entry for a K-Pop solo album on Billboard 200. On top of that, he has made history with his solo album vending 2,147,389 copies on its debut day, scoring the highest first-day sales of any K-Pop solo album in history. Furthermore, he surpassed the records for both, the most first-day and first-week sales of a K-Pop solo album in just one day, demolishing the previously held record by Kim TaeHyung, better known as V, who is also JungKook’s bandmate. 

The Unceasing Achievements

Featuring an American rapper, Latto, 'Seven' is a smash in JungKook’s new album that shattered numerous records. Due to its captivating tunes and the mellifluous vocals, it became the fastest song to acquire one billion streams on spotify, smashing the previous 112-day record set by Miley Cyrus’ song Flower. Moreover, it was awarded a platinum award by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) on November 6, 2023. Nonetheless, all these achievements opened the doors towards attaining the #1 position on the U.S. Hot Hundred, which was maintained for 13 consecutive weeks. 'Seven' also snagged the award for Best Dance Performance Male Solo along with the Best Collaboration award at the "2023 MAMA Awards." JungKook received the Best Album and Best Digital Song award at the "Gold Disc Awards," three Artist of the Year awards (global streaming, digital, and physical album) at the "Circle Chart Music Awards," and a Bonsang at the "Seoul Music Awards." Without putting a stop to the list of achievements, he is also racking up Guinness World Record titles to his name, with a staggering five titles currently.  

The one who once dreamt big now motivates millions around the world to dream big. The euphonious songs filled up with his dedication and passion, delight and motivate people to follow his footsteps in burning their midnight oils for the accomplishment of their goals. His journey to the top, inspires individuals to dream big no matter their current status as he, the star whose light beams blind people today, was once just a clump of dust. He charmed his way to the top not through nepotism or wealth but through his ‘Blood, Sweat, & Tears.’ He is a true self-made artist and a glistening diamond today. As of January 2024, JungKook is fulfilling his mandatory military service in the Korean army, and will be temporarily absent from stage. The distance between him and his fans may dishearten some, but the bond between them is everlasting. ARMY’s eagerly await his and the other members' return in 2025 as their love and loyalty towards the Bangtan Boys remains consistent.