Jung Kook (Jeon Jung-kook)

Born September 1, 1997, in Busan, South Korea, is the youngest member and main vocalist of the global K-pop group BTS. Known affectionately as the “Golden Maknae,” “maknae” meaning youngest in Korean pop culture, Jung Kook is celebrated for his versatile vocals, stage presence, and wide range of talents, including rapping, dancing, and even drawing

Early Life and BTS Career
Jung Kook debuted with BTS in 2013 as the group’s youngest trainee, joining after being inspired by fellow member RM. He has contributed multiple solo tracks to BTS’s discography, including Begin (2016), Euphoria (2018), and My Time (2020)

. He also recorded Stay Alive for the webtoon 7Fates: Chakho in 2022.

Solo Success
Jung Kook officially launched his solo career in 2023 with the digital single “Seven” featuring Latto, which topped the Billboard Hot 100, Global 200, and Global Excl. U.S. charts — the first Korean soloist to achieve this

. The song became the fastest to surpass 1 billion Spotify streams, later surpassing three billion. His follow-up, “3D” featuring Jack Harlow, debuted at No. 5 on the Hot 100 and UK Singles Chart, making him the first South Korean solo artist with two consecutive top-five entries on the latter

. Other notable solo works include Euphoria, 3D, Standing Next to You, and collaborations with Charlie Puth (Left and Right).

Military Service and Comeback
Jung Kook completed his mandatory South Korean military service in June 2025 alongside Jimin

. His return coincided with BTS’s comeback and the release of their 2026 album ARIRANG, which topped the Billboard 200 and featured the Hot 100 No. 1 single SWIM

Public Persona and Interests
Jung Kook is known for his humor, candidness, and personal touches — from revealing his “medicine bag” of supplements and medications during tours
, to sharing quirky food preferences like loving pizza but disliking leftovers

. He enjoys video editing, photography, gaming, and drawing, and has a black belt in Taekwondo

Recognition
He was awarded the Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit in 2018 for his contributions to Korean culture

. Jung Kook’s blend of BTS’s global reach and his own solo achievements has cemented his status as one of K-pop’s most influential and versatile artists.

In short: Jung Kook is BTS’s youngest member, a record-breaking soloist, and a cultural icon whose music and performances have shaped modern K-pop’s global success.