Jung Kook Talks About Missing the BTS Members, Always Prioritising ARMY, and Feeling Uncool

Jung Kook is the vocalist, lead dancer and centre of BTS, arguably one of the most successful boy bands of all time but he’s also been busy carving out his own career with the release of his solo debut album ‘GOLDEN’ and his third single ‘Standing Next to You’.

The album was only released on 3 November, and it has already been smashing records left and right. As of the time of writing, this includes breaking the record for the biggest first-day sales for an album by a soloist in Hanteo history. Jung Kook also broke his own record for most monthly listeners for a K-Pop soloist in Spotify history (36.716 million).

The 26-year-old also became the first Korean soloist to spend 12 Weeks on Billboard’s Artist 100 chart. In fact, the list is quite endless…someone get this guy (another) Grammy already!

Here are excerpts from Apple Music’s Zane Lowe’s in-depth interview with Jung Kook in Seoul following the release of ‘GOLDEN’ where he opened up wanting to study drawing, embracing unfiltered lyrics, how he wants ARMY to experience “Standing Next to You”, and more.

Jung Kook Reflects on the Early Days of BTS and Feeling Uncool…

 Ah.. since it's been more than ten years now, my memories are a bit sketchy. But I would say we were not that cool. Of course, at the time, the other members looked so cool to me. But honestly, I still can't watch the footage from when we first debuted or even from a few years later. It makes me feel cringey and embarrassed. I'd think if only, what if? I'm thinking if only I could have some of the emotions I feel now.  What if? What could have been?

We had that raw vibe for sure. It was just the seven of us all lacking something,  but then trying to make it work just by ourselves. I think we are where we are today because of those days of being together and trying to make it work.

Jung Kook on the Members of BTS Deciding to Pursue Solo Endeavours…

So you know the three rappers, RM, SUGA, j-hope, they actually had a big influence on that because ever since they debuted they were working on their own thing and putting it out there. The vocal members actually got a lot of inspiration from that. There were lots of cover songs, fan songs, and holiday songs.  So watching them, it became kind of natural, to do your own work and to put out your own work. So given various circumstances, we started working as solo artists on our own….but again, it happened very naturally.

As for the reason, honestly, before I released the single "Seven", I didn't have any specific plans. When I listened to the piece I felt, oh, I have to do this. And so that's how it came through. But in any case, those three had a great influence on making it so natural to do so.

Jung Kook on Embracing More Honest and Unfiltered Lyrics…

Well, from “SEVEN” and up to GOLDEN, none of the songs actually are my personal stories. Actually, they're all love songs, which I felt were the most universal feeling. So I wanted to work on a lot of these good songs that fit within that kind of theme. And so you'll notice in the album there's a continuum of that love theme. This is a very important time for me.

But as a young artist, this would be the time for me to sing lyrics like that and I needed to change up my image a little. Honestly, even for me, it was a challenge and I was concerned about the lyrics myself.

Jung Kook On His Favourite Part of Creating ‘GOLDEN’…

 Well, there were many different stories and themes and all of these songs are across different genres. And then performing in English. Before I was performing as a part of a group and even if it was my solo work, it was mostly fan songs. But now it was an entire body of work I was working on my own and I really enjoyed that process. It was so much fun to work abroad, side-by-side with a foreign producer. And after we finished each song, I felt a great sense of accomplishment. The process itself was really enjoyable.

Jung Kook on the Incredible Feeling of Performing Live For His Fans…

It's a feeling that’s difficult to put into words. It's like getting all the good words in the world and putting it all together. Is it heaven? I don't know. In any case, it's just so so so so good. It's so great to be singing as an artist in that space with all these people who are cheering me on. It just makes me very happy and even gives me goosebumps from just how happy it makes me feel.

Jung Kook on Why “Standing Next To You” Is His Favourite Song on the Album and Why He Wants Fans To Experience It As Loud as Possible…

"Standing Next To You". Of course, the song itself is great, but more than that, it just allowed me to see this grandiose picture when I heard the song and I could see myself right away performing on stage with that song. So I felt that that was the best title track for the album. That's how I chose it. It has a very special place in my heart because the recording process was really difficult. But one thing that I would like to ask of ARMY is to not listen to it with earphones on or with their smartphone but to listen to it loud on a loudspeaker. 

Jung Kook on Missing BTS, Looking Forward to Reuniting and Why Starting Up Again in 2025 Will Be “Incredible”...

 Well, no, I don't think it's too far along in the future. Preparing as a solo artist and also working as a solo musician…there were times when I really missed (them). When I was in the waiting room or standing by myself on stage or eating with the staff. We were always together for so many years that I felt the void of them not being next to me. You know, I miss them. And I was thinking about them.

So I suppose that year could seem far away, but I don't want to think that way. I think the synergy of BTS in 2025 will be incredible. I am so looking forward to it.

Jung Kook on What He Loves Most About The Special Bond with ARMY…

Well, there's a saying in Korea "You follow your friends to Gangnam"… but between BTS and ARMY, I don't know who's following who. Maybe BTS is following ARMY or ARMY is following BTS, I don't know. There's this very special bond and also a sense of depending on one another that I think is very special.

And then going beyond that, I want to have authentic and comfortable conversations with ARMY…at the end of everything, the real me. Honestly, there's a line a singer shouldn't cross with the fans. But of course, I won't cross that line. I will be courteous to the fans. But if anything, just like a friend you can talk to about anything. So I think there’s something like that with my fans.

Jung Kook on Why He Puts ARMY Before Everything Else…

 But what I think of as the top priority is.. this is a little inconsistent, but the biggest issue is to not think about myself, but I think of ARMY first. It's not my family, it's not the BTS members, but it's ARMY. So as Jung Kook of BTS, I think more about what I do together with ARMY.

Rather than a goal or something like that, by these people, or thanks to these people, or because of these people, that I'm able to create and have purpose and then as I enjoy myself doing that, it becomes an accomplishment… the order never goes the other way around.  

Jung Kook on the Possibility of Pursuing a Career in Design One Day…

I think I could possibly see myself going into design or drawing somehow, or going into sports. I liked drawing since I was a child. I definitely want to study drawing sometime in the future. I have a weak spot for creative work. I really want to try it out myself someday.

Watch the full interview here:

Watch the official MV for ‘Standing Next to You’ here:

Credit: Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1.

Image credit: Apple Music 1, @BTS_Junngkook, @bts_bighit