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| Clockwise from top left are Jin, Suga, j-hope and RM from BTS before and after debut. All pictures captured from online community |
By Dong Sun-hwa
As K-pop superstar BTS makes its name in the world, many people began wondering what BTS members looked like before their 2013 debut with "No More Dream."
1. RM (Rap Monster)
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| BTS leader and rapper RM |
RM, or Kim Nam-joon, can be regarded as the "beginning" of the group's history, since Bang Si-hyuk, founder and CEO of the group's agency, decided to give birth to a hip-hop idol group after bumping into RM.
The leader, who was born in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, used to be a recognized as an underground rapper with the stage name "Runch Randa," before joining Big Hit Entertainment in 2010. In fact, he was a top student at his middle and high school with an IQ of 148. With his fluent English, he has been conveying the messages of BTS in English even at United Nations Headquarters in New York in September.
2. Suga
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| BTS rapper Suga |
Suga, whose real name is Min Yoon-gi, was born in Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province. He found a position as a part-timer at a record shop when he was 17, and is known to have learned music while working there.
He also was an underground rapper named Gloss and eventually joined Big Hit as a music producer. However, he debuted as a member of idol group BTS in the end, becoming its second member.
3. j-hope
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| j-hope |
j-hope, or Jung Ho-seok, is one of three rappers in the group and the best dancer at the same time. He was born in Gwangju, South Jeolla Province. He belonged to an underground dance group called "Neuron" before making his debut as a member of BTS. He was the third member to join BTS.
In fact, these first three trained together for three years while waiting for other performers to be chosen for BTS.
4. Jin
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| Jin |
Jin, or Kim Seok-jin, who was born in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, was a student at Konkuk University. He studied film and animation with the aim of becoming an actor, but Big Hit Entertainment employee chose him in 2011.
SM Entertainment had tried to recruit him when he was in middle school, but he declined because he thought the offer was a fake.
5. Jungkook
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| BTS main vocalist Jungkook. Capture from Mnet |
Jungkook decided to take part in the third season of the audition program "Superstar K" in 2011, after being inspired by K-pop act G-dragon from BIGBANG. The vocalist was then only 14 years old in Korean age.
Seven agencies including Big Hit, Woollim and Cube were interested in the boy after a second preliminary round of the audition show. The singer picked Big Hit after hearing RM's rap at the company.
6. V
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| BTS vocalist V |
V, or Kim Tae-hyung, was born in Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province and dreamed of becoming a singer when he was an elementary student. He went to a dance academy for six months and passed the audition.
The singer also was interested in becoming a farmer or a saxophonist. Kim has played saxophone for about three years.
7. Jimin
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| BTS lead vocalist Jimin. |
Jimin, who was born in Busan, North Gyeongsang Province, dreamed of becoming a singer after being impressed by singer-actor Rain. While he was a student at Busan High School of Arts, he did an audition thanks to his teacher who suggested he take part. Through this, he became the last member to join BTS.
