As BTS continues to dominate the global music scene, fans often wonder what the members looked like before their meteoric rise to fame with “No More Dream” in 2013. Delve into the earlier years of these K-pop icons and witness the transformation from aspiring talents to international superstars.
1. RM (Rap Monster)
Before he became RM, or Kim Nam-joon, the leader of BTS, he roamed the underground rap scene as “Runch Randa.” Born in Ilsan, Gyeonggi province, RM caught the attention of Bang Si-hyuk, the CEO of Big Hit Entertainment, who envisioned creating a hip-hop idol group with him as the cornerstone. Fluent in English, RM’s influence extends beyond music, as seen in his impactful speech at the United Nations in New York.
2. Suga
Known as Min Yoon-gi, Suga hailed from Daegu, North Gyeongsang province, where his journey with music began. Working at a record shop at 17, he absorbed musical inspirations while honing his skills as an underground rapper named Gloss. Joining Big Hit as a music producer paved the way for his debut as the second member of BTS.
3. J-Hope
Jung Ho-seok, better known as J-Hope, emerged from Gwangju, South Jeolla province, with a passion for dance. Formerly part of an underground dance group called Neuro, J-Hope’s journey to BTS started with rigorous training alongside RM and Suga, waiting for their moment to shine.
4. Jin
Kim Seok-jin, born in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi province, harbored dreams of becoming an actor while studying film and animation at Konkuk University. Recruited by Big Hit Entertainment, Jin’s path diverged from acting to join BTS, despite previous attempts by SM Entertainment to sign him.
5. Jungkook
Jeon Jung-kook’s journey began with aspirations sparked by K-pop sensation G-Dragon. Auditioning for reality TV show Superstar K in 2011 at just 14, Jungkook garnered attention from multiple agencies, ultimately choosing Big Hit after witnessing RM’s performance.
6. V
Kim Tae-hyung, or V, nurtured dreams of singing from his days in Daegu, North Gyeongsang province. Initially drawn to becoming a farmer or saxophonist, V’s path shifted towards music after attending a dance academy and passing an audition.
7. Jimin
Hailing from Busan, North Gyeongsang province, Park Ji-min’s journey to BTS began with a teacher’s suggestion to audition at Big Hit. Inspired by singer-actor Rain, Jimin, a student at the Busan High School of Arts, embraced his dream of becoming a singer, culminating in his role as the final member to join BTS.
