If there is one thing Kim Seokjin excels at, it is not worrying about what’s already done, or what could potentially be. Self-admittedly, he prefers to focus mainly on the present, and small attainable goals for the future. His overriding drive is sustaining happiness. This simple honesty, and lack of guile, has carried Jin through his years in BTS, and served as an inspiring example for both his bandmates and his fans. During 2017 and 2018, BTS was going through one of the most difficult times in their career. Most of this was happening behind the scenes, so ARMY was none the wiser at the time. It wasn’t until Jin stepped up to the microphone during an acceptance speech at the 2018 MAMA awards that fans found out the group had been dangerously close to disbanding earlier that year. As the eldest hyung, Jin took that moment to recognize his fellow members’ bravery and love in coming through the fire. In his commitment to seeking happiness, he wanted ARMY to know that they were stronger than ever, always grateful, and dedicated to focusing on what truly matters the most… their fans, and each other.

The word ‘fate’ carries a heavy weight. To claim that something was fated to happen is saying that, no matter what, the outcome received was the one always meant to be. When we take into account things like timing, individual reactions and behavior, and a myriad of outside factors that could occur, claiming anything that happens to be fated seems a bit… naive, perhaps? Kim Seokjn was the last person who ever thought he’d end up a K-Pop Idol. He was a young man who prioritized simplicity and easy happiness over everything else. However, while attending college to pursue acting, a series of random events in his life led him to eventually becoming a member of BTS—now one of the biggest musical groups in the entire world. Prior to becoming a trainee, Jin had never tried to sing or dance in his entire life. As we look at the road he walked to become the artist he is now, it’s hard to think anything other than destiny was at work the day he was spotted by a Big Hit scout just getting off the bus, on his way to school.

As 2022 came to a close, RM was busy promoting his first solo album, Indigo. In the midst of all this, at the beginning of December, Jin (having reached his 30th birthday), enlisted in the South Korean Army, in order to fulfill his mandatory military service. The members all gathered with him at his base camp, to say goodbye (for now) to their hyung, and to Chapter One of BTS’ career. At the start of 2023, ARMY had no idea who would next be enlisting. Namjoon didn’t seem to have any projects happening at the time, however, in a Weverse live in February, he randomly said, “I think I’m off the Indigo mode. I think I’m on the next stage already.” What “next stage” did he mean? But we wouldn’t find out until over a year later… not until after he’d all but disappeared over the summer, teased us repeatedly with art house film images posted on a mysterious new Instagram account, and then enlisted in the military himself. We went NUTS (pun intended) trying to figure out what “rpwp” meant. Finally, in April of 2024… we got our answer. Right Place, Wrong Person—RM’s second studio album.