Rumors surrounding BTS member Jin’s next endeavors have intensified following an unexpected comment made by Chef Lee Yeon-bok. During a press event for KBS’s Stars’ Top Recipe at Fun-Staurant, which aired on March 27, 2025, the celebrated chef casually hinted that Jin is gearing up for a “nationwide tour”set to commence in April.
According to a report from Korea Economic Daily, Chef Lee, who has a well-documented friendship with Jin, was asked to extend an invitation to the idol for his upcoming show. In response, Lee stated:
“BTS’ Jin asked me to teach him how to toss a wok, so I was going to teach him, but I heard there’s a nationwide tour starting in April. If a celeb is that sincere about cooking, that’s enough. I’ll gladly help.”
The chef’s casual mention of Jin’s possible tour triggered a wave of excitement among fans. Although Jin has not yet confirmed any tour plans, his admirers are eager for details, with many speculating that Chef Lee’s comment could have been an inadvertent revelation.
Social media platforms buzzed with theories, with one fan exclaiming:
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN NATIONWIDE TOUR IN APRIL? ?!!!”
Others added their thoughts:
“Tour in April? Like this or the next one? Jin’s solo or BTS? Chef just gave a big spoiler to us delulu, bangtan deprived fandom. He doesn’t know he poked a bear,”read a comment on X.
“I’ll just wait and see without speculating… Whatever comes from him will be good, right now I just want him to show up… This Seokjin drought is too hard, come back,”mentioned another fan.
“Brooo Jin’s nationwide tour in Korea! We can wait for the official announcement, but we will watch his live singing after a long time; can’t wait,”said one netizen.
“NATIONWIDE TOUR IN APRIL?! OMFG WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? OH MY FCKING GOD I’M SO INVESTED RN! CHEF LEE YEON-BOK KNOWS THE TEA, KIM SEOK-JIN, WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING?”wrote an X user.
The chef’s comments left many fans questioning the nature of the “nationwide tour.”Speculations range from a potential solo concert to a promotional endeavor related to a cooking show or other projects.
“What does he mean by nationwide tour? Does he mean concert tour? Or a travel show like tour? Or something cooking-related?”asked this fan.
“What does he mean by that? Concerts? The Coldplay concerts? A promo tour for the Netflix show? Brand events? ALO-related promos?”speculated another netizen.
“Is it a press tour for the Kian84 Netflix show? Surely if it was a music tour it wouldn’t be spoiled like this—plus we would have had some leaks beforehand,”wrote an X user.
“I’m not sure about the nationwide tour, but I really don’t think it’s Jin’s solo tour. You need a substantial number of songs to tour, and given his current discography, plus Hobi already touring, it feels unlikely for any other member to have similar activities simultaneously,”added this individual on X.
Exploring BTS’ Jin and Chef Lee Yeon-bok’s Lasting Friendship
The friendship between BTS’ Jin and Chef Lee Yeon-bok has flourished over the years, extending well beyond their professional realms. Their bond began on the variety show Please Take Care of My Refrigerator in 2017 and has since grown through various interactions, both on-screen and off.
Chef Lee has often praised Jin’s character and manners, demonstrating warmth and camaraderie. This was particularly evident when they reunited after Jin’s military service, with Lee sharing a touching photo on social media on July 2, 2024, that garnered much attention from their fans.
Their relationship is marked by shared meals and thoughtful exchanges. For instance, on September 15, 2024, they were seen dining together in Yeouido, South Korea, where Jin treated Lee to dinner. Consequently, the chef promised to return the favor.
They further showcased their friendship in the series Half-star Hotel in Lost Island, featuring in episodes 15 and 16, while a special cooking vlog captured Jin visiting Lee’s home to learn a shrimp recipe before Jin’s enlistment in 2022.
Recently, on January 11, 2025, Chef Lee revealed that Jin had gifted him homemade alcohol, which Jin had started preparing before enlisting in December 2022 during a segment of The Drunken Truth with Chef Baek Jong-won. Lee expressed heartfelt gratitude for this thoughtful gesture.
BTS’ Jin: A Rising Star in Music and Entertainment
Since completing his military service in June 2024, BTS’ Jin has made significant strides in his solo career across music, television, and endorsements. His debut album, Happy, released on November 15, 2024, marked a pivotal moment in his artistic journey.
Featuring six tracks, Jin not only participated in songwriting, composing, and production for four of the songs but also collaborated with artists like Gary Barlow of Take That, Red Velvet’s Wendy, and Taka from One Ok Rock.
Happy quickly dominated music charts, reaching #1 on the Worldwide iTunes Album Chart, while the lead single, Running Wild, soared to the top of the Worldwide iTunes Song Chart. Within its first week, the album sold over 953,000 copies, setting the record as the highest-selling solo album in Korea for 2024. It further topped Hanteo’s daily rankings.
Jin’s success continued with the release of Close to You, an OST for the drama When the Stars Gossip, which debuted on January 26, 2025. This track rapidly climbed to #2 on the Worldwide iTunes Song Chart and later achieved #1 on the Amazon Music Chart.
Additionally, Jin has made appearances in various variety shows, and he is confirmed to be a regular cast member in Netflix’s upcoming 2025 variety show Daehwanjang Gianjang. He continues to host his own show, RunJin, keeping fans engaged with his many endeavors.
With anticipation building for Jin’s future projects, fans eagerly await new music releases and exciting announcements.