BTS member Jin, known for his Worldwide Handsome moniker, opened up about his early days as a trainee and the street casting offers he received even before his debut.
On Tuesday, the KBS Kpop channel uploaded a new video featuring Jin as a guest on the show Leemujin Service.
In the video, Jin discussed his decision to appear on Leemujin Service while promoting his solo album, saying, “As I was releasing my album, I wanted to make various appearances, but I kept wondering, What would make our fans happy? I couldn’t come up with an answer, so I said, ‘You choose for me. I’ll go on anything,’ and Leemujin Service was one of the options.” He also shared some behind-the-scenes details about how the show came about.
Jin, BTS’s eldest member and the first to complete mandatory military service, also reflected on his time in the army. “I worked as a drill instructor at the 5th Division Training Center in Yeoncheon,” he said. When Lee Mu Jin, who is still serving, jokingly commented, “I don’t think it was that tough for you,” Jin laughed and responded, “You wouldn’t know unless you’ve been there.”
Jin continued, sharing amusing details from his military days. “The younger guys in the barracks watched Leemujin Service a lot. There’s not much to do in the military, but the TV in the barracks had the show available for free. So it became really popular among the soldiers.”
Having performed on countless stages with BTS as a global idol, Jin compared his experience on Leemujin Service to performing at concerts. “I’m not comparing it to a concert, so people’s expectations are different,” he explained. “But the shooting environment is similar across all productions. I felt comfortable from the moment I walked in, so all I had to do was make my friends feel at ease,” he joked.
Jin also shared insights into making his first solo album, Happy, which he released after completing his military service. He explained, “While I was in the military, I only briefly sketched out my emotions, but I didn’t start preparing properly until after discharge. The day after I got out, I had a performance. Afterward, I spent about three or four days listening to thousands of songs to find the right ones.”
He also revealed, “Except for the title track and the song with Red Velvet’s Wendy, I came up with all the concepts and organized everything myself.”
Known for his striking good looks and the nickname “Worldwide Handsome,” Jin was asked, “Didn’t you receive many street casting offers before your debut?” He responded, “Before I became a college student, I only got approached once or twice. I had to apologize to my mom, but I would tell her I was going to the academy or the study room, and I ended up spending hours at the PC bang (internet cafe). Most of all, my neighborhood was academically focused, so casting scouts didn’t come around.”
However, Jin’s experience with street casting offers skyrocketed after entering college and becoming a trainee.
Jin also shared a funny story about his time in the military. “When I was a recruit, I gained 10kg (about 22 pounds) in just one month. Maybe it was due to a sense of compensation, but I ate a lot. By the time my training was over, I had gained 10kg,” he confessed, causing laughter from the group.
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