Jin (BTS)

Jin was discovered by Big Hit Entertainment while walking down the street, initially scouted for his visuals despite having no prior musical background. At the time, he was studying acting and auditioned as an actor before ultimately training as an idol. On June 13, 2013, he debuted as one of the four vocalists of BTS.

As part of BTS, Jin has released three solo tracks. “Awake”, which he co-produced, was featured on BTS’ second Korean studio album Wings (2016). The song peaked at number 31 on the Gaon Digital Chart and reached number six on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart. Later that year, he released a Christmas version of “Awake” on SoundCloud.

In 2018, “Epiphany” was introduced as a trailer for BTS’ compilation album Love Yourself: Answer. The track, described by Billboard as having a “building pop-rock melody,” carried themes of self-acceptance and self-love. It later appeared on the album and peaked at number 30 on the Gaon Digital Chart and number four on the US World Digital Song Sales chart. That same year, Jin, along with his BTS bandmates, was honored with the fifth-class Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit by South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

Jin’s third solo track, “Moon”, was released in 2020 as part of BTS’ fourth Korean studio album, Map of the Soul: 7. The song, described by Variety as a power pop track dedicated to BTS’ fans, peaked at number one on the Gaon Digital Chart and secured the second spot on the World Digital Song Sales chart.

In July 2021, Jin was appointed as a Special Presidential Envoy for Future Generations and Culture alongside his BTS bandmates. The role aimed to strengthen South Korea’s diplomatic influence and global presence while advocating for key issues affecting future generations.

Jin has explored various musical projects outside of BTS. In 2016, he collaborated with bandmate V on “It’s Definitely You”, part of the Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth soundtrack, which later earned a Best OST nomination at the 2017 Melon Music Awards. In 2018, he joined Suga and Jungkook for an alternate version of “So Far Away”, released during BTS’ fifth anniversary. His solo covers, including “Mom”, “I Love You”, and “In Front of the Post Office in Autumn”, were released on SoundCloud between 2015 and 2018. He also appeared as a co-host for various South Korean music award shows.

In 2019, Jin released his first independent song, “Tonight”, an acoustic ballad inspired by his pets, co-written with RM and Big Hit producers. The song was praised for its soothing melody and heartfelt lyrics. His second solo release, “Abyss”, arrived in 2020, reflecting his struggles with anxiety and self-doubt.

Jin lent his voice to the Jirisan OST in 2021 with “Yours”, followed by “Super Tuna”, a fun trot-style track that went viral, spawning a dance challenge with millions of views. In 2022, he collaborated with Nexon as a special developer for MapleStory, documented in a web series. Later that year, “Tonight”, “Abyss”, and “Super Tuna” became officially available on streaming platforms, dominating the World Digital Song Sales chart.

His official solo debut came in October 2022 with “The Astronaut”, co-written with Coldplay. He performed the song live in Buenos Aires during Coldplay’s tour, with the concert streamed in over 70 countries. The single debuted at number 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the World Digital Song Sales chart. Around the same time, he became the face of Ottogi’s Jin Ramen.

After completing his military service in June 2024, Jin hosted a BTS anniversary fan event and served as a torchbearer for the South Korean delegation at the Paris Summer Olympics. He was named the first global ambassador for Fred, later securing partnerships with Gucci and Laneige. In October, he released an extended version of “Super Tuna” with a new music video. The following month, he dropped his debut solo album Happy, featuring six tracks and two singles, “I’ll Be There” and “Running Wild”. The latter earned him his second entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 35.

Influence

In 2019, Jin was ranked as the overall 13th most popular idol and sixth among girls aged 13–19 in South Korea, via data collected by analytics company Gallup Korea.

Philanthropy

In December 2018, Jin donated food, blankets, and dishes for the Korean Animal Welfare Association to celebrate his birthday. He also donated 321 kilograms of food to the Korea Animal Rights Advocates (KARA), another Korean animal welfare non-profit organization.

Since May 2018, Jin has been a monthly donor to UNICEF Korea, requesting that his donations be kept private at the time. They were eventually publicized following his induction into the UNICEF Honors Club in May 2019 for donating over ₩100 million (about US$84,000).

Military service

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On October 17, 2022, Big Hit announced that Jin would begin the enlistment process after promoting “The Astronaut”. Having previously received a postponement under the revised Military Service Act, he filed paperwork on November 4 to cancel the extension and proceed with his conscription.

Jin enlisted as an active-duty soldier on December 13, 2022, at the Yeoncheon army base in North Gyeonggi Province. After completing basic training with the 5th Infantry Division in January 2023, he was appointed as an assistant training instructor in the same unit. He officially completed his service on June 12, 2024, becoming the first BTS member to be discharged.