Bangtan Sonyeondan, popularly known as BTS, is a seven-member K-pop boy group that has taken the world by storm. The group debuted in 2013 with its single album 2 Cool 4 Skool, and in the eight years since, has made enormous waves worldwide, breaking world records along the way and gaining a mega fanbase known as A.R.M.Y. The group has produced massively popular songs such as “Dynamite,” “Butter,” “DNA,” and “Blood, Sweat & Tears.”
With the band’s overwhelming international success, it’s common for folks to want an idea of some personal details about the stars. Here are some of the facts you’ve got to know about BTS’ seven talented members.
RM
The leader of the group, Kim Namjoon (also known as RM) was born on Sept. 12, 1994 and is 27 years old. He is five feet, 11 inches tall and is a rapper, songwriter, and producer. He started his musical journey at age 11 when he was introduced to lyricism after his schoolteacher introduced him to Eminem’s music. He began writing lyrics and chose the name “Ranch Randa” when he started rapping in the underground hip-hop scene as a middle school student. He later selected the name “Rap Monster” during his time as an idol trainee before he formally changed it to RM (Real Me) in 2017. He has said that the moniker “Rap Monster” no longer represented who he was or the music he created.
J-Hope
Jung Hoseok, also known as J-Hope, was born on Feb. 18, 1994 and is 28 years old. He is five feet, 10 inches tall and is a singer, songwriter, and rapper. He was a part of the underground hip-hop dance group Neuron before he made his debut as a member of BTS. Initially known for his dance skills, J-Hope actually went on to win first place in a national dance competition in 2008. He later gained interest in singing and rapping, which prompted him to go for an idol audition. He chose the moniker J-Hope because he wanted to represent hope for his fans and the group. On March 1, 2018, J-Hope released his first solo mixtape, Hope World, and was the first BTS member to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 as a solo act.
Jin
Kim Seokjin, also known as Jin, was born on Dec. 4, 1992 and is five feet, 10 inches tall. The vocalist and record producer is the oldest member of the popular group at 29 years old. He is known for his visual prowess and was scouted by SM Entertainment agency off the street when he was a junior high student. He eventually turned down the offer because he believed it was a scam. At the time, his dream was to be an actor and graduate with a degree in art and acting. Without any foundation in music, Jin was scouted by his current agency, Big Hit Entertainment, for his handsome face. Jin has released two solo songs titled “Awake” and “Abyss” and enjoys success performing with his bandmates.
Suga
29-year-old Min Yoongi, popularly known as Suga and Agust D, was born on March 9, 1993 and is five feet, nine inches tall. He is a rapper, songwriter, and producer known for his creative input, not only BTS’ music, but that of other K-pop groups and soloists as well. His interest in rap was ignited after he heard the Stony Skunk song “Reggae Muffin” and decided to become a rapper after listening to the music of Epik High. At 13, he was already writing lyrics and working at a recording studio, where he was composing, arranging, rapping, and performing music. He joined the hip-hop group D-Town in 2010 and — under the moniker Gloss — produced some of their best tracks. He chose the stage name Suga after he signed under his current company. The name was suggested because of his pale complexion, which he was told looked “sweet like sugar.” He took on the pseudonym Agust D when he released his mixtape in 2016 and now has over 100 registered songs credited to him by the Korea Music Copyright Association.
Jimin
Park Jimin, popularly referred to as Jimin, is 26 years old. He was born on Oct. 13, 1995 and is five feet, nine inches tall. He is a vocalist, songwriter, record producer, and dancer. He attended Just Dance Academy during middle school where he learned how to dance before going on to attend Busan High School of Arts. He studied contemporary dance and became a top student in the school’s department of modern dance. He went for an idol audition after a teacher suggested it to him, which led to him signing under Big Hit Entertainment. He was later transferred to Korean Arts High School in 2012 and graduated in 2014.
V
Kim Taehyung, whose stage name is simply the letter V, is 26 years old and was born on Dec. 30, 1995. He is five feet, 10 inches tall and is a singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. His musical inspiration began in elementary school, which led him to take professional saxophone lessons in a bid to pursue his dreams. He became an idol trainee at Big Hit Entertainment and took on the stage name V because it stood for “victory” and he’d achieved his lifelong goal of becoming a professional singer. He made his acting debut in the 2016 Korean drama, Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth.
Jungkook
Jeon Jeongguk, who famously goes by Jungkook, was born on Sept. 1, 1997 and is five feet, 10 inches tall. He may be the youngest in the group at 24 years old, but Jungkook also acts as its center. He is a singer, songwriter, record producer, and dancer. As a child, he wanted to become a badminton player, but changed his mind after watching G-Dragon perform the song “Heartbreaker” on TV. In 2011, he auditioned for Superstar K, a Korean talent show, but was not selected. After the audition, he received offers from seven companies, subsequently choosing Big Hit Entertainment after he saw RM perform. In 2012, he underwent dance training in Los Angeles and graduated from the School of Performing Arts, Seoul, in 2017 after forgoing the CSATs the previous year. Jungkook has released four solo tracks and has been credited for producing a few of the group’s songs.