Kim Ji-hoon Talks About BTS’ Jungkook and His Solo Career
On May 15, during an episode of TXT’s Soobin’s show, “Faves’ Faves,”Kim Ji-hoon, a former SM Entertainment trainee and actor, shared his thoughts on Jungkook from BTS and the idol’s solo career. This show provides celebrities with a platform to present their favorite things, spanning a range of topics from food to fellow industry stars.
While discussing the broader topic of K-pop, Kim Ji-hoon highlighted BTS as a pivotal influence in the industry. When host Soobin inquired about his favorite member of the group, Ji-hoon did not hesitate to express his admiration for Jungkook.
The conversation transitioned as Ji-hoon expressed his disappointment regarding Jungkook’s recent solo album, GOLDEN, particularly its lead track, “Standing Next To You.”He lamented the lost opportunities that arose just after the album’s release, particularly regarding performing at the Super Bowl, which he felt was within Jungkook’s reach had it not been for his military enlistment.
“For me, 100% Jungkook, he’s just so good. Personally, what I find so frustrating is ‘snty.’ He teamed up with Usher and absolutely crushed it, but he enlisted in the military then. If he hadn’t gone to the military, then I swear, he could’ve done the Super Bowl halftime show.”
Ji-hoon further commented on the quality of Jungkook’s performance:
“That’s what I really regret, seriously. When that song dropped ‘Woah, damn, from the very first solo stage it was so sleek, so good and the choreo was bam-bam-bam, hit after hit.. this song is just massive.”
Kim Ji-hoon’s words resonated strongly with fans online, many of whom shared their sentiments regarding Jungkook’s missed opportunities due to his military service. Here are some notable fan reactions:
“For real, Jungkook wasn’t fully able to promote his first full album. He was robbed of big opportunities and was constantly rushing because of the enlistment.”
“Everyone and their mamas know how big of an opportunity was wasted because of his early enlistment,”a fan commented on X.
“Oh he loves him because only true JK lover would say something like this,”noted another fan.
“It’s one of my biggest regrets too; it was such a huge opportunity for him, and ‘Standing Next to You’ is truly another level. More than ‘Seven,’ all are great, but ‘snty’ is the greatest of all from every aspect,”reflected a netizen.
More fans echoed Kim Ji-hoon’s sentiments, expressing a shared sense of loss regarding Jungkook’s potential performances that could have followed his solo album.
“Bro, everyone who loves Jungkook shares the same sentiment with you. So, thank you for speaking on behalf of us; HYBE is watching in shamelessness,”said one fan.
“Don’t remind me of this please. This Super Bowl thing is so heartbreaking,”remarked another user.
“Any normal person would feel this way, but you got some mfs here talking about how the Super Bowl doesn’t matter,”noted a member of the fan community.
“Jihoon said the truth, yeah JK and Usher at the Super Bowl would have been historic. But because of his military service, he couldn’t. I hope JK gets more and much bigger opportunities like this. Manifestation,”expressed another user on X.
A Closer Look at BTS’ Jungkook and His Solo Endeavors
Jeon Jung-kook, widely known as Jungkook, is a South Korean singer-songwriter and dancer who debuted in 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment, now known as HYBE Labels. As a vital part of BTS’s vocal line, which includes Jin, Jimin, and V, Jungkook has made significant contributions to the group’s success.
Throughout his tenure with BTS, Jungkook has released several solo tracks featured on group albums, such as “Euphoria”and “My Time.”Additionally, he launched a few independent songs on SoundCloud, including “Still With You”in 2020. His official solo career began in July 2023 with the release of his debut single, “Seven,”featuring Latto.
Jungkook swiftly followed up this success with another single, “3D,”featuring Jack Harlow, in September 2023. In November, he unveiled his first studio album, GOLDEN, which includes the title track, “Standing Next To You.”Shortly thereafter, in December 2023, he commenced his mandatory military service.
As a part of his commitment to his fans, he launched “Never Let Go,”a single to celebrate BTS’s 11th anniversary, offering this as a heartfelt gift to ARMYs. Additionally, in September 2024, he is set to release his solo documentary, I Am Still, detailing the creation of his debut album. Notably, Jungkook is expected to complete his military service and be discharged in June.