#trans:interview

“Someone says my spoon is dirty” <MIC Drop>

They weren’t dirt spoons at first. Dirt, scattered by prejudice, covered them.

(*In the spoon class theory, dirt spoon is considered the lowest class in the society)

The rapper title is a luxury to you guys <We Are Bulletproof Pt.2> You have no power, I know you must have done something shady <Two! Three!> Small company’s idols with nothing special was my second name <Sea>

Suga said, “I didn’t want to get hurt, because it means losing to prejudice. I didn’t want to be upset.” The dirt spoons’ voices were heard. Mockery started. They didn’t throw it away, they buried it deep. They then met ignorance. They didn’t spit it out, they engulfed it. Ridicule poured down. They stood up against it with blood, sweat and tears. They are BTS.

LA November 2017, AMAs. The Chainsmokers introduced the 16th performance. The second-to-last performance, right before the ending.

“We are going to announce next performer. They are international superstar. Here’s BTS, which is having huge fan over here.”

Mnet M COUNTDOWN, June 13th 2013. BTS appeared. Their debut single was ‘No More Dream’, but they could no longer dream. Reality was reality. The company’s head, Bang Shihyuk, was met with doubts. “Isn’t he a ballad composer?” The name BTS was ridiculed. “They’re going to become cannon fodders.” The company, Bighit, was taken pity on. “They will never make it with a company this small.” And their genre, hip hop, was the subject of mockery. “Idols doing hip hop? What kind of nonsense is that?” In fact, it was bitterness from the start. “I thought the sea was here but it turned out to be a desert”. The first desert they faced was the trainee days. Dicon’s first question, too, is about their trainee days.

(Dicon) Seven members came together. No, seven dreams came together.

RM: I wanted to tell people my stories, with my voice, in front of many people. This was the start of my dream.

SUGA: Billboard, AMA... None of them was on my wishlist. It was too far away. It was a goal impossible to achieve. At that time, everything I ever dreamed of was for many people to listen to my music.

JUNGKOOK: Nothing was certain. Those days were so vague. I didn’t even know how to dream. The future? I only looked forward and ran.

V: Just becoming a trainee made me so happy already. Learning was fun. I could even dance every day. I spent my days working hard. At that time, the present was more important to me than an unseen future.

JIN: My dream was to hold a concert. I wanted to become one with our fans through our songs.

JIMIN: Meeting senior singers felt amazing to me. I wanted to become like them. They were so awesome.

J-HOPE: My goals were always clear. To stand on stage, to become the best, but first, it was to survive. Trainee days were a continuous survival game. If one comes in, another drops out. I had to endure in between. But...

But the ideal was the sky and reality was the ground. It wasn’t easy, like what their song said.

I thought the sea was here but it turned out to be a desert Small company’s idols with nothing special was my second name Countless of times edited out from broadcasts Being someone’s fill-in was our dream Some people said our company was small so we wouldn’t make it <Sea>

J-HOPE: It wasn’t easy having to part ways with my fellow trainee friends. They were like my family. That reality pained me so much.

RM: There were times I felt unsure about my future. Like my life is not +, nor it is 0, it’s just −... The thought that ‘oh, we’re still preparing only’ tired me out.

JIMIN: When I saw a wall showing up in front of my eyes, it felt like no matter how much I do I still couldn’t work it out? The wall of reality was higher than I thought. But still, I had no thought of giving up.

JIN: I started learning the choreography properly in preparation for the debut. I felt distressed because it didn’t turn out the way I wanted. I kept getting scolded too.

JUNGKOOK: At that time we went through an enormous amount of practice, to the point that it was hard to handle it. But after we debuted, I felt like, like I’m a frog in the well*? I blamed myself that I was lacking too much.

V: For me, dancing was fun. No matter how hard practicing was , it’s something I like so I could endure. If anything, it was having to live away from my parents that was hard for me. I’ve been living away from them for a long time so I miss them.

SUGA: The cheapest meal they have near the company costed 6,000 won ($5.59). A 300,000 won allowance was nowhere near enough to live for a month. I took up a delivery part-time job alongside MIDI lessons. I had a car accident then. My shoulders were badly injured. I thought of giving up but... The members stopped me from leaving. The company also waited for me.

Suga also express his agony at the time through rapping.

The root of my creations has tasted the world’s sweetness and bitterness Those days trying to sleep on the bathroom floor now become memories Grabbing my shoulders crushed in a car accident during a delivery part-time job and debuted In front of whom are you all pretending you have had it hard <The Last>

They had each other. They are each other’s strength. Thus, You Never Walk Alone. Seven members walked together, encouraging each other.

RM: I remember I once said ‘Shouldn’t we at least perform at Olympic Gymnastics Stadium once before we die?”.

JIN: Namjoon’s always like that. He holds each of us and shouts out fighting. It motivates us a lot. I like laughing together with our members. It’s the reason why I could endure.

J-HOPE: The seven of us were chosen. Since then, we only looked forward and ran. We trusted and relied on each other. We shed blood and sweat together. We decided to try no matter what result comes and motivated each other.

JIMIN: The members told me. ‘I really hope you would go together with us.’ That’s the power of the words. I was able to work even harder. I already had a goal in my mind that is to go together until the end, so I didn’t give up.

V: It was hard, of course. It was inevitable. But I wasn’t the only one who had it hard. None of us didn’t have it hard. That’s why I gained strength even more. We gained strength from looking at each other.

SUGA: That’s true. The members were the reason I could make it through those days. They are the best stimulant. When the members practiced, I composed songs. It was also when I wrote the beats for ‘Tomorrow’ and ‘Agust D’ (mixtape).

JUNGKOOK: It was the day of the showcase. After coming down from stage, i felt emotional. I wasn’t the only one who felt so. We hugged each other and cried. I remember that day.

These wings sprouted from pain but they head towards the light Even if it’s hard and painful, if I can fly, I will Will you hold my hands so that I will no longer be afraid Because if you and I are together, we can smile <A Supplementary Story: You Never Walk Alone>

June 12th 2013, they stood on stage for the first time as BTS. It was the birth of BTS. On the stage they desired so much, they rapped and ranced. They could endure even the wounds.

When I rap and dance on the stage that I desired so much, I feel that I’m still alive It was worth enduring the tiring and exhausting commute Because my people are watching me It was worth enduring even when my body hurts Because the cheers are surging in <Born Singer>

RM: I couldn’t think of anything. My thoughts were full of ‘I have to do well’, ‘I have to pull this off’, ‘I have to end this’, things that we planned. Our first stage ended like that. From the name, hairstyle, even the sunglasses, everything was a standing joke. Hurt? Maybe it’s because I tried to forget it, I don’t really remember it well now.

SUGA: When the response rushed in ‘Where did those kids come from?’, I was totally excited. I wasn’t really hurt by criticism. I heard a lot of it from before debut so...

J-HOPE: I only have good memories of the debut stage too. I got to stand on the stand I wished for so much. I still can’t forget that thrill. The cheers of people who didn’t know us still show up vividly in my mind. The problem was the next day. I guess I was too excited. I made a lot of mistakes during ‘Music Bank’ rehearsal. I remember being scolded a lot...

JIMIN: I didn’t have time to think about people’s stares and reactions. I thought if I work a little bit harder, I would get a little bit better. I practiced while monitoring.

JIN: I continued to observe even during other senior singers’ stages. And one more thing is, I envied of the support from (their) fans.

V: I don’t remember much the hurt I got back then. I already forgot everything. More than anything else, I was fascinated by the fact that I appeared on TV. I remember calling my grandmother and parents to ask if they had seen the music program.

JUNGKOOK: There was a lot of hate comments. But I have to admit, because I was lacking a lot then. If anything, I clenched my teeth and practiced even more days and nights. I would come to the practice room whenever I can.

What could be their next goal? They said it was “to survive”. In reality, they had to survive.

JIN: There was a lot of groups debuting around the same time as us. We couldn’t ease ourselves yet just because we made it to the stage. There were many times we didn’t get to perform the whole song too. Every time it happened, we felt really upset. We practiced even more desperately. We thought as long as we have the talent, we wouldn’t be pushed out.

SUGA: Competition at music programs was really fierce. We wanted to keep making music, so we wanted to stand on stage.

J-HOPE: I think it’s the same for every trainee. We were really desperate. Everyday, we thought that we had to survive on this stage.

RM: We had to show ourselves in a short time. We had to draw people’s attention. We were also well aware of the fact that there’s no next time. We had no choice but to prove ourselves.

JIMIN: It felt like tapping at the ground to go up? I couldn’t see anything in front me of. It wasn’t something possible with passion only. But still, the only thing I could do was to push myself endlessly. Like ‘this is no big deal’...

V: I met and part ways with many friends in my trainee days. I had to survive from there.

JUNGKOOK: I don’t know what kind of confidence I had. ‘I will become something’, ‘We will become something.’ I was certain.

If you can’t fly, run Today we will survive If you can’t run, walk Today we will survive If you can’t walk, crawl Even if you crawl, gear up <Not Today>

Their practice room stank of sweat. Their performances were excellent. Their rap was resonant. That’s how they stood out.

JIN: We were different from the start. It’s not our strategy to stand out, we only wanted to do music. More than anything,I trusted our members and followed our company. I wasn’t afraid.

SUGA: Yes, we weren’t afraid, but people were afraid of us.

RM: I have been rapping ever since and I love music, so I believed I could deliver it better than anyone else. Looking back now, there are many times I did not but...

J-HOPE: We didn’t compare ourselves to other groups. We did our own things. It can be shocking (to other people), but I hoped that shock left as strong ‘impression’ to them.

JIMIN:  We wanted to talk about the concerns teenagers had, because they were also ours. Hip hop was the best kind of music to showcase our thoughts.

V: I believed our strength is that we’re different from others.

JUNGKOOK: At that time, my top goal was the team. I couldn’t cause trouble to them. My ultimate task was to do good at my role.

Damn hip hop pride, idol rapper? Cut that bullshit They say my nature’s still that idol shit anyway and ignore me Give their principles to the dog and mock my name You all who only know to cloud the issue and ignore How you kill me? <BTS Cypher Pt.1>

BTS fought, with themselves. Like what V has said. “It’s important that we do well. I was certain that that way, we would be recognized.” In the end, the boys were right. Prejudice went away. Of course, it. was. no. coincidence. There was a reason.

RM: It didn’t change right away. It changed little by little. I think it’s from after ‘I NEED U’.

JIN: ‘MIC Drop’. A stage that many people said to be cool.

SUGA: ‘DNA’ stage at AMAs. It changed misunderstanding to understanding.

J-HOPE: There’s a song called ‘Born Singer’. It shows ourselves and our thoughts.

JIMIN: I recommend ‘Save ME’.

V: ‘MIC Drop’.

JUNGKOOK: ‘I NEED U’, ‘Dope’.

'Dicon' picked Jungkook's solo song 'Begin'. The background of this song itself is sincerity. Producer Bang Shihyuk asked them if they had any stress. Jungkook said, "I don't. I went (to Seoul) not knowing anything when I was only 15. It's what I really wanted to do so..." And he continued. "My only stress is that the hyungs I'm living with have to go through a hard time. I don't know about everything else. It pains me the most seeing them stressed. I hope they won't have to go through a hard time." He cried. Bang Shihyuk PD cried. J-hope cried. RM cried. Jin cried. Suga cried. V, Jimin too cried. And Jungkook sobbed.

That's how 'Begin' was born. Only, it wasn't just the beginning of Jungkook. Below are answers from the older members.

RM: I can never forget how Jungkook cried and said 'My stress is that the hyungs are stressed'. Jungkook doesn't usually express his emotions so it hit me even more.

JIN: It reminds me of how Jungkook cried in front of Bang Shihyuk PD. I felt sorry but also proud of him, and he also looked cute.

SUGA: We were stressed of course. Exhausted even. So every time I listen to 'Begin', I feel odd. But if I watch Jungkook's solo performance, I only have one though that he's cool.

J-HOPE: I'm proud of Jungkook. He tells his own story through his dance and song. It's a song that shows Jungkook's energy greatly.

V: I still remember what Jungkook said while crying. That story is reflected fully in the song.

JIMIN: We gain strength even more thanks to Jungkook. It's the 'Begin' of all of us.

When I was fifteen, I had nothing The world was too big and I was too small Now I can't even imagine How I used to have no scent and empty I pray Love you my brother Thanks to my brothers, I had feelings and became me <Begin>

The dark night passed and the morning shone bright. What could be their motivation? One certain thing is, it's time to raise thumbs up.

RM: Faith. I always try to show that my faith wasn't wrong. Maybe that's why I always attempt something, because I want to prove (my faith).

SUGA: Pride. Our fans like our music and wait for our stage. I wanted to give them pride.

JIMIN: I had a goal that I want to achieve. By my side, there are the members and the fans that are always together with me.

JIN: The reason we could endure through it is thanks to our fans. They gave us love so I couldn't disappoint them.

J-HOPE: That's correct. Our fans are our biggest motivation. When I look at fans who love our music, I feel that I'm still alive. Thanks to them, we could become who we are now.

V: Thus, 'ARMY'.

JUNGKOOK: I wanted to bring them good performances and music.

In the end, every story concludes with ARMY*. It's always like that. Every conversation with them ends with ARMY. Of course, the ending of 'Dicon' should be ARMY too, shouldn't it? "If we are together, even the desert becomes the sea" was especially heartfelt.

(*literally "gi seung jeon ARMY". "gi seung jeon gyeol" (起承轉結) is a kind of writing structure, with 起 representing "the introduction", 承 "the development", 轉 "the twist", 結 "the conclusion". "Gi seung jeon ARMY" is a word play based on "gi seung jeon gyeol", meaning it ends with ARMY.)

RM: 'Can the desert become the sea?' is my endless self-doubt and self-examination that I have been holding since predebut. It was the biggest answer to that question. I couldn't help tearing up knowing their love for me.

JIN: I wonder when they prepared it to move us this deeply. I was so thankful. My tears couldn't stop.

SUGA: Lately, I'm more easily moved to tears. Perhaps it's a sense of security, or fear, or happiness, or sorrow. These complex emotions just flood in.

J-HOPE: The fans' events never fail to give me chills. I know their devotion and sincerity, so when that energy's conveyed (through the events), the synergy explodes. They moved me greatly. I'm always thankful to them and love them.

JIMIN: If I could express how I felt then in words... I would be able to write a few books. That moment made me realize 'that's right, our fans are always by our side'. I'm so happy that I keep tearing up.

V: When I read the messages the fans send, I think of the hardships I went through. Sometimes it also makes me sad, the thought that we're finally seeing the light.

JUNGKOOK: I could feel everything on that stage. ARMY's breath, voices, ARMY's cheers, tears. I'm moved greatly every time I see the fans. I made a great decision becoming BTS...

So, letters to ARMY?

RM: I'm learning about the meaning of 'us'. It's like there's no longer 'us', just the many moments of 'you' and 'me'. I want to learn about the true meaning of 'us', where we are truly together, with ARMYs. I hope each and every one of our members can mean 'us' in that sense to ARMYs. We may be living somewhere in the world, doing different things. But we are breathing together through music and performances. I want to comfort them through all the loneliness and solitude that humans can't help but embrace, and live in this world together. That's what I want to do.

JIN: Thanks to ARMY, my time at where they said to be the desert felt like I was at the sea. Thank you for making me happy. I love you.

SUGA: It feels like I’m flying so high. I see so much and so far away. I thought I would only feel happy above the clouds, but sometimes when I look down, I feel scared. I take courage from the fact that we’re flying together. I’m afraid of falling, but I’m not afraid of landing. Thank you for being with us. I’m forever grateful and love you.

J-HOPE: Thank you for always supporting and loving us. I’m happy to become your hope.

JIMIN: ARMYs. I believe you know how I feel when I look at you. I can take a step forward thanks to having you beside. I’ll work hard to show you more and give you bigger love. I love you.

V: I hope you won’t get hurt and your every day will be filled with happiness only. I really love you.

JUNGKOOK: I’ll always be here. ARMY can come to see us whenever you miss us. And you can leave whenever you have to leave, or whenever you want to. But please remember this one thing only. I’ll always be here.

Thank you, for letting me be me For letting me fly For giving me wings For folding up the me that's once wrinkled For breaking the me that once felt suffocated For waking the me that once lived in only dreams When I think of you, my sky clears up So I throw away all my sorrow Thank you, for becoming 'us' <Save ME>

To 'Dispatch', it's not the end until it wraps up. The same for 'Dicon'. This page hasn't end yet. There's no room for doubt when it comes to BTS. Like The Chainsmokers said, they're ISu. International Superstars. Should you be jealous of their success? No, failure brings experience. These spells by BTS are their encouragement dedicated to all challengers in the world.

RM: Sometimes we have to erase many things so we can fill them up again. I always chant 'do it' to myself. 'Believe in myself and just do it'. Not 'do well', but 'just do it'. It'll turn out well after.

J-HOPE: Believe in yourself and move forward. It's the first step to success.

JIN: I always chant 'I am the best' to myself. I believe in myself and support myself by thinking 'It's okay, I can do well'. You'll do well like magic.

SUGA: The world has never let us dream, nor has it ever taught us how to dream. They say it's your fault, but it's not. Don't blame yourself. It's okay to lean back when you're tired. If someone's tired, become their pillar of support. This is the reason why I started making music. I hope our music can become your little source of strength.

JIMIN: If you have a goal you really need to achieve, don't look back. Don't hesitate, give it a go first. If you have a path you want to follow, follow it. That way you won't regret.

V: You may fail, you may fall, you may despair. It's natural. Just don't give up no matter how much you fail, fall, despair. If the thought of wanting to give up crosses your mind, I hope you'd overcome it and stand up again. Even if you can't trust yourself, do it for the people that put their faith on you.

JUNGKOOK: Don't regret things in the past. First, look at the reality and think about what you can do. Arrange what you need to do in order and resolve one by one. At some point, you'll get what you wish for. We'll support you too. Don't feel tired.

Everybody say NO! There's no later Don't be trapped in someone else's dream We roll (we roll) We roll (we roll) We roll Everybody say NO! It's now or never You haven't tried anything yet <N.O>

Tomorrow, keep walking We are too young to stop Tomorrow, open the door Too many things in front of our eyes to close it Follow your dreams like breaker Even if it breaks down, oh better Follow your dreams like breaker Even if it falls apart, oh Don't turn back, never <Tomorrow>

“We stood up again. Before we knew it, we were already running. Awaiting us on that road was the dream of seven boys.”

“When ‘Begin’ was made, Jungkook told us in tears. ‘When I was a kid, I wanted to sing and dance. Seeing hyungs go through a hard time is the hardest for me.’ Hearing him say that, we all cried.” (2016)

“We weren’t tired because there were seven of us. No one stopped. Then came the debut day. Criticism flooded in before the cheers ended. It felt like dreams, passion, hard work were all powerless.”

Episode #1 “Being able to hold a concert itself is happiness.”

Who could ever guess what spectacular events were awaiting. Just one year ago, it was simple. Rap Monster shared, “Finally, we get to hold a concert at Gocheok dome. We will show you the best performance we can bring.” BTS was excited, and so was Jimin. Excited at the mere thought of standing on stage. “Being able to hold a concert itself is happiness. I’m practice to show you better performances.” Jungkook showed expectation. “I’m even more excited about this concert. We’re more relaxed compared to past tours. I think we’ll get to interact with fans through this stage. Suga was focused. “There’s a lot to pay attention to in the concert. We have to match to the smallest details. My goal is to wrap up without making any mistake.” No one could expect what grand events were waiting for them one year ago, even a year ago. They were just doing their best to complete the current tasks. And three months later, they flew to Las Vegas, where Billboard award ceremony was held.

Episode #2 "ARMY sent us here."

Billboard Music Awards. 'Top Social Artist' nominee. Their rival is pop star Justin Bieber. "They're going up against Bieber? Anyone can see Bieber would win for sure!" After all, Bieber took home trophies for this category the last 6 years.

Finally, Billboard award ceremony. "They're going up against Bieber? What about Bieber's fans?" Numerous fans surrounding the Magenta Carpet. They were shouting BTS' name. Blasted there was the song 'Fire' It was foretelling that they would win.

BTS was well aware, that the Billboard red carpet is the flower path fans laid for them. RM said, "I only think of fans of course. ARMYs made this 'Top Social Artist' award (possible) for us." Jin added in, "Yes, that's right. ARMY sent us here. We'll work harder. We'll continue to do our best in the future. Thank you." "I don't even know what surprise awaits anymore now. We made it here thanks to the support from ARMY. I wonder what is waiting for us ahead..." Yes. Like Jimin said, Billboard was the start for these international superstars.

Episode #3 “Actually, we are really nervous.”

May 21st 2017, V had a stomach ache. Finally, it was the day of BBMas. They were the first idol group to be nominated for ‘Top Social Artist’ category. At MGM Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, V was nowhere to be seen. He showed up a little bit later. “Sorry, I had a stomach ache so I was late.” V’s image was (somewhat) chic and cool, so it was unfamiliar seeing him shy. But it was heartwarming. We asked if he was nervous. The members all said in chorus. “Actually, we are really nervous. We just pretend to be relaxed. We’re so nervous.” 2017 Billboard Music Awards red carpet, Jungkook was clutching his handkerchief tightly.

“(After debut) What we faced was indifference, cold shoulder, ridicule. Dreams couldn’t exist in the night of the desert. The road ended. We sat down, but we didn’t give up.”

Episode #4 "Hello."

If you ask about BTS' DNA (habits), we will unhesitatingly pick 'greetings'. Formula of greetings, commandment of greetings, providence of greetings, evidence of greetings...

First, 'formula' of greetings. J-hope asks "Have you eaten yet?". A totally untrendy (?) greeting. That's why it's even more affectionate. He takes care of even the youngest staff's meals.

'Commandment' of greetings. Take a look at V. On the last shooting day for DNA jacket photo, V left early due to another schedule. He asked the manager to greet for him through Kakaotalk. "I had to leave without getting to greet you. Thank you for your hard work." (From V)

Jimin knows the 'providence' of greetings. "Our fans really like the photos (Dispatch) took." So Dispatch worked harder to take better photos. Doesn't matter if it was a white lie or not.

RM showed his concern instead of greeting. "The waiting time's getting longer. You must be feeling bored right?" Jin showed up with his game console. "Can I sit here and play games for a bit?" He added. "Shall I explain this game to you?"

Suga composes music at night. His days and nights are reversed. Sometimes, he would off and suddenly wakes up. "There was a heavy traffic jam right?" He wasn't sleep talking. It's the evidence of greetings. Jungkook adds, "It must be tough for you having to come all the way here."

“We must cross the desert to reach the sea. We walk again to find another desert. We move forward, together.”

Episode #5 “LOVE YOURSELF 承 Her”

What BTS has to surpass, is BTS. So did they outdo themselves? September 2017, a month of continuous tough schedule. More than a week of time was spent to shoot the jacket photo and music video. They put their heart into every shot. On the last day, they attempted to film an one-take shot. It would show a continuous opening starting from V to J-hope, RM. Just one misstep, one second of losing focus and it would be an NG. The movements needed to go smoothly. Again, it was the last day of shooting. They couldn’t help but feel tired. But BTS laughed, thanks to the oldest and youngest member. The older, Jin, and the younger, Jungkook, chatted and teased each other, even showing slapstick gags. Laughters rang through the tiring day. ‘LOVE YOURSELF 承 Her’. BTS made it. They set records.

Episode #6 "We had the photo of our life at LA airport."

That photo was nowhere near a life shot. It was bare taken, out-focused due to being pushed by foreign fans. But J-hope and V gave thumbs up and added it was "the best photo". We were embarrassed. Calling a lucky shot 'the best photo', it was probably their way of thanking for covering their news at LA. We know that this is their kindness. BTS' kindness. It was their heartfelt words that made us drop our weapons, take off and throw away our 'bulletproof vests'.

Episode #7 “You will watch our performance right?”

“You will watch our performance right?”... What confidence they had. An AMAs performance on top of that. We asked their order. “When is your turn?” “We don’t know too.” They replied cheerfully as if it was of no importance. AMAs director wanted BTS to have a collaboration stage. Like the one Psy had with MC Hammer, they wanted BTS to perform with famous stars. But BTS politely declined. “The seven of us are the coolest on stage.” This is BTS’ pride. They have been together for seven years. They shed blood, sweat, tears, and the fruit they bore was the AMAs stage. The DNA that is matching steps just by looking into the eyes. America went wild. They were blown away by their synchronized choreography, charmed by their live singing. This was the start of international superstars.

- Anyone would understand the swag in your ‘Mic Drop’ lyrics. You spent a year with ‘bags filled with trophies’.

▲ J-HOPE: It was a year of many achievements that I feel proud of myself looking back. All thanks to our fans’ enthusiastic support.

▲ JUNGKOOK: I wasn’t nervous at all, be it at award shows or American NBC talk show ‘Ellen DeGeneres Show’. It’s because I believed in our fans. At that time I felt that I made a right decision choosing to become a singer.

▲ JIN: Hmh, I think I became more handsome last year. I’ve been saying this for years so our fans would understand this, haha. We interacted with fans a lot last year too. We had more contents, interacted with fans in various ways and together made achievements.

- Many fields have analyzed BTS’ secret to success and economical value. Even in the politics world there were reports urging to learn your method of communication. It was summarized into many factors like refined music, contemporary messages that connect with the youth, synchronized choreography, friendly SNS interactions, but what do the members think is the key factor?

▲ RM: We have received this question countless of times and I think I have represented the team to answer more than 200 times. It’s finalized gradually with every answer and this is the newest version. I truly praise Bang Shihyuk PD-nim for his batting eye. We started as a hiphop crew but Bang PD-nim thought that there needs to be someone to talk about what is needed in our society. There were rappers like us who can realize that idea and other members who are skilled performance-wise. If we were to summarize BTS’ secret to success into keywords, I think it would be ‘Sincerity + Ability’. Our sincerity is visible in the public’s eyes, but people only focus on the point that we’re active on SNS. What’s more important is that we’re singers, so our music and performances’ quality has to be good no matter what. We have that and combining with the sincerity and messages we want to deliver and our frequent SNS usage, they’re envisioned and supported by Bang PD-nim. He provided us the freedom and we as players took high risk to get high return. We and the company have equal credit and in terms of a collaborative relationship between the company and the artists as business partners, I think this is a good model.

▲ SUGA: I thought a lot about this too since I was curious. It’s hard to sum up in one thing. What someone needs to talk about but no one did, I think that’s where I started. I took a look back to see how I made music before, since it was the beginning of a new year and I was feeling restless, and Bang PD-nim was like this from the start. He sat in the small studio and told us, ‘What do you want to talk about? Think about the subject for your beats.’ We said ‘Respect personal taste’, ‘Why does no one talk about schools and the society?’ and that’s how we started. Unfortunately, when others analyze us, they attribute our success to SNS only. Kim Saengmin sunbae-nim who hosted our fanmeeting not long ago praised us in his podcast that ‘Nothing can beat working hard at what they’re good at’. When I heard that I thought ‘He really felt what we do’. It took 5 years for people to know this, so I felt sentimental.

- Last year you were record makers. The most representative records were your Billboard achievements and album sales, which figures came close to you emotionally?

▲ RM: When we made it to No.28 on the Billboard main single chart ‘Hot 100’ with ‘MIC Drop’ Remix. Having our name on the ‘Hot 100’ that I have been seeing since I was small was shocking to me. Normally in America, the top 40 songs on ‘Hot 100’ are considered nationwide hits, so making it into the top 30 itself was a huge deal.

▲ J-HOPE: The album sales came to me. I felt moved how the album with music we made recorded a big sales number.

▲ SUGA: Actually I don’t dwell on figures or records. Many things happened last year but the performance at ‘American Music Awards’ was the most memorable to me. When I was little, award shows weren’t broadcasted live on TV so I had to watch on the Internet. Appearing on the show was thrilling already but getting to perform on stage right in front of Diana Ross, who received the Lifetime Achievement award, was unbelievable.

- You received fervent responses in American. Local fans arranged campaigns to request your songs at radio stations and helped with Billboard rankings. With ‘Mic Drop’ entered the ‘Hot 100’ for 8 consecutive weeks and ‘Love Yourself 承 Her’ on ‘Billboard 200’ for 15 consecutive weeks, your popularity doesn’t seem to cool down. In which aspect do you see the local fans’ enthusiastic reactions?

▲ SUGA: There’s barely any difference between the way Korean and American fans love us and how they express that love. If I were to choose one, I’d say they like when we’re together the most. They must have found it special how we’re always together no matter what we do.

▲ RM: In the same context, before fans become fans, they’re part of the public who consume contents. I believe they become ‘core fans’ because they distinguished what is not visible in the eyes. If we combine our chemistry and sincerity they felt through video contents like performance videos and behind-the-scenes, music and high-quality performances, I don’t think there’s any weapon more powerful than that. It transcended languages and became the catalyst powering fans to request our songs on radios.

- You appeared on 3 big American talk shows, was there any behind story?

▲ V: I remember these questions the most, ‘Why are your fans so enthusiastic?’, ‘How did you gain such great fans?’. (When asked how he replied) RM answered because he’s good at English. (laughs)

▲ RM: We originally planned to only perform at all 3 talk shows, but after the production crew saw the fanchant and reactions of the fans on set, they add corners like games and talk section with the MCs. There wasn’t supposed to be a talk section with Ellen but after seeing our fans, Ellen said ‘This can’t be it, we need to do more’ and arranged it. It was thanks to fans.

▲ JIN: We asked the translator hyungnim for cool words and sentences and memorized them to talk one by one, but we couldn’t quite understand the questions so we couldn’t answer. V even stayed up all night to prepare questions that would likely to come out but he couldn’t answer, it’s cute.

▲ V: (Searching for the memo note he wrote answers on) I predicted they would ask questions about the performance so I memorized all the answers, but Ellen didn’t ask. The translator hyung obviously said ‘There’s a good chance they’ll ask this question’... (laughs)

- Since your debut in 2013, you have faced the dreams and reality of boys and youth, and in Suga’s mixtape track ‘The Last’, you also confessed about the feeling of separation with reality, depression and compulsion when you dreamed of being an idol star. Looking back at your trainee days, how did you overcome the anxiety and how far do you think you have reached that dream now?

▲ SUGA: I think anxiety and loneliness are something that’ll come with us for the rest of our life. How we let then out matters much and we have to learn our whole life to know how to. I think life is thinking every moment, because emotions change so much with each situation and moment. Through this article, I want to tell people that “I feel the anxiety and so do you, so let’s find the way and learn it together". Never once have I not had a dream. All of my dreams came true. When I was a trainee, my dream was to debut as a singer, after I debuted, it was winning first place, after I won first place, it was winning the daesang and making it to Japan and America. To be honest, Billboard and ‘AMA’ were only far-fetched talks I couldn’t even dream of, but it came true. I don’t feel like I’m running towards a specific dream more than before, but lately my thoughts have changed, our values and happiness as human beings are also important, so I’m still far (from attaining it). I have achieved a lot as a single but last year was probably the turning point. I’m only 26 years old and even though I have been making music for 10 years, counting from pre-debut, I will continue for a long time. I’ve been having a lot of thoughts this new year.

▲ RM: I think humans are programmed to feel ambivalent emotions at the same time. They say it’s the motivation created for humans to dominate other worlds as the lord of all creation. We think about parting as we love and we think about fall and failure as we feel the success, it’s in our genes. It’s the same context with what Suga-hyung said, (anxiety is) like a shadow. To put it in my case, my father got tinnitus during his 25 years working at a company. He said it was hard for him, he got stressed when he concentrated on his work or did something he liked even with no symptom shown, and when he faced stressing situations it got so severe that it affected his life. The anxiety that shows as tinnitus to someone is like a shadow, it gets taller with my height and longer with the night. We can’t say we overcome the ambivalent emotions from the other side of our hearts, however, humans must embrace our inevitable loneliness and darkness, so we need a haven for ourselves. Before, music was the only thing to me and I was lucky to choose this path and meet good friends, achieving occupationally and financially. I made a few havens for myself so I could befriend my anxiety. I collect figurines, buy clothes that I like, go to unknown neighborhoods to see how people live.  When I take the bus and wander around unknown neighborhoods, it bridges the gap and makes me feel like I’m not far away from this world. It’s how I disperse my anxiety.

- Looking at the lyrics that harbor your experiences, there must be a lot of hard times in the past 5 years.

▲ JIN: I’m the type to avoid such moments so I try to live another life by playing games. When I play games, I get to live with a completely different personality. Recently I started gaming again and happened to meet friends I met 10 years ago when I played. We have never met in real life, just online friends recognizing each other from IDs. But I felt somewhat happy. It brought back old memories.

Q10. The most exciting song of BTS? The uptempo "Wings". And the original Japanese song "Crystal Snow" which will be released in December! When I first heard it I felt like it matched my current emotion quite well. Q11. If you were to go out on a personal trip with the members? If I have time, I want to travel to Japan. I want to tour around the streets of Tokyo leisurely. Q12. Something you're into the most right now! As always, composing! Q13. A skill that you can say "Actually I'm good at this too"? Are you asking "I can do this too", not "I can't do this"? (laughs) From now on I want to be good at composing, Japanese and learning. I want to speak Japanese a little more fluently! Q14. If you were Santa Claus, what present would you give to each member? For Rap Monster-san, J-hope-san, Jimin-san, V-san, I want to choose clothes that match them well. Maybe composing equipment would be great for Suga-san. And for Jin-san who's raising cute sugar gliders, pet supplies!

V

Q15. Favorite number? 85. The song 'DNA' we released in Korea in September ranked No.85 on Billboard Hot 100 Chart. From that day on it's my favorite number. Q16. Favorite drink? Lemon lime flavored soft drink. It's a must when I'm eating or taking a break. I can't drink coffee and alcohol well. Q17. Favorite movie genre? Every genre except for horror movie! A movie I enjoyed watching recently is "Midnight Runners". Q18. Something that made you feel the most excited recently? Actually I'm planning to give my parents a car as a surprise present. Just thinking of it gets me excited already. Q19. Saddest song of BTS? The hidden track "Sea" from "Love Yourself 承 'Her'". The lyrics are like the path we walked on, so my heart aches whenever I listen to it. Q20. A photo you took recently? Landscape photos. I like putting my thoughts into my photos. I have been saving all the photos I took until now so hope one day I can show it to you guys in any form. Q21. If you were to become a photographer, what kind of photobook would you want to make? Landscape of course. I would make a photobook of landscape photos with 2 versions, colored and B&W. Personally I like B&W photos but I think color photos have a fascinating power of touching the heart, so hopefully it'll double the delight. Q22. Something you must do for beauty care? I put on facial mask and skin lotion 10 minutes before I sleep every night. For hands I just use hand cream? Q23. How do you get your mood up when you feel down? When I think of 그므시라꼬 (lit: What is it / It's not a big deal), one of the things my father told me before, my mood's recharged! Q24. A person you want to meet right now? The aunt of the protagonist from "The Full-time Wife Escapist". Ishida Yuriko's acting is extremely skilled and charming. Q25. A birthday episode that made you deeply moved? When my family and relatives gathered to celebrate my birthday before I went to elementary school. I'm still keeping the photo we took together that time. Q26. Favorite event during a year? The birthday of my father who's been raising me up. I'm living away from him now so I can't celebrate it properly, but I want to invite him to Seoul one day and throw a big party for him! Q27. Tips for learning Japanese? I tried to remember words or commonly used sentences only before, but now I watch Japanese dramas and movies and if there's any word I don't know, I would pause the video and look up for its meaning. A movie I watched recently is "Drowning Love". Q28. Something the members told you recently that made you happy? "Handsome." This is embarrassing but it makes me happy (laughs)

JIN

Q29. The most exciting song of BTS? "Fire". The melody and lyrics bring a nice feeling and can lift the mood up, and many people knew about BTS thanks to this song too. It changed our lives so whenever I hear it, I get heated thinking about that time! Q30. A song you played with guitar recently. My skill's still lacking, but I wanted to play the BGM of a game that I happened to hear on a guitar practicing video so I'm working hard on it right now. Q31. The first image that comes to your mind when it comes to "winter"? I think of the snow-clad area from an RPG game I used to like when I was a kid. Q32. Something you do every day without skipping? Feeding Odeng and Eomuk. Sugar gliders are small and cute! By the way Odeng is "odeng" and Eomuk is "odeng" in Korean♡ Q33. A food you can cook well? Mixed seasoned whelk (whelk salad) and a soup with rice cake (rice cake soup). I made it for the members on New Year's Day and they loved it, they thanked me for making it because they can't go home often. I'm really kind, aren't I? (laughs) Q34. A Japanese food that made you touched? Grilled eel rice, it has dashi stock so it was delicious! Q35. Must-have item in your fridge? Chili pepper paste, ssamjang (dipping sauce for meat), kimchi. I mainly eat meat at home so there must be condiments for meat. Q36. Favorite space in your room? I like the room itself so it's hard to choose one. I feel happy when I play with my pets, play games or just idle around. Q37. The member who you talk to about your worries? I don't have that many worries. I tend to resolve the cause on my own before my thoughts becomes a worry. Q38. In which moment do you think you shine the most? My existence itself is shining so it should be "always", not just "moment"! (laughs) Q39. Memories about '2017 Billboard Music Awards'? When we arrived at the venue in Las Vegas there was a panel that said "Billboard", I and the members went "So this is Billboard" and we were so touched, we couldn't believe it... Q40. A recent private surprise? I gifted Odeng and Eomuk to myself! And we celebrated Jungkook's birthday in September with a surprise event. Q41. A member that you depend on lately? Jimin. When we went on a variety show he left it to me when I spoke, and stepped up when it’s his turn to speak, he was reliable.

Q42. A goal you want to achieve in 2017? Getting closer to Odeng and Eomuk and make them come to me without having to do anything. I’m practicing for them to climb on my arms when I put yogurt on my hand, but not long ago they bit my finger along with the yogurt... I think it’ll take some time. (laughs)

JIMIN

Q43. Favorite season? I like the feeling of winter, since I was born in Busan and there’s not much snow there. When I was around 6, may 7 years old, there was abnormally heavy snow in the winter, the snow scene I saw outside of my window was extremely memorable. I remember playing outside with my family and friends.

Q44. Something you want to have the most right now? Time to travel. To Japan! I heard that Halloween in Japan is really big, I want to disguise myself so that no one would recognize me and join in.

Q45. A subject you were good at at school? PE, Arts, Science, Math. I especially liked ball game in PE.

Q46. Something you pay attention to when you build up your body? I only adjust my meal portion depending on the time. I don’t really work out. Even I myself feel like I’m thin when I put on clothes. So sad... (laughs)

Q47. Favorite street in Korea? Gangnam. It’s the place where I met the members after going to Seoul from another region and also the place where I go for bowling or billiards and play with my friends. Gangnam indeed!

Q48. A fashion item you want to try wearing this winter? I’m planning to go shopping and think about my winter fashion starting from now. I’m looking forward to see if I’ll meet cool coats or cute knitwears.

Q49. What did you do before sleeping yesterday? As soon as I came home and lied down on my bed after coming back from a variety show filming, I fell asleep right away. (laughs)

Q50. What did you dream of last night? I was continuing with the variety show filming in my dream last night. (laughs) If I can choose my dream as how I want, I want to fly to the sky!

Q51. Something that made you laugh the most recently? Jin-san said something lame so I laughed really hard. But since it was too lame, unfortunately I don’t remember what it is. (laughs)

Q52. A hairstyle you want to try? A hairstyle with impact... I don’t know if I suit it or not but maybe like, slicked-back hair!

Q53. If time machine exists? I used to think it would be fun to go back in time and start over, or to secretly go meet myself in the future. But now I don’t want to go anywhere. Because I had determined to not let go of what I saw at the time, live and cherish every moment.

Q54. Favorite words? “Thank you”, just hearing this gives me strength.

Q55. Memories about 2017 Japan arena tour? The tour made me once again feel how fun it is to do concerts! As we headed towards the end of the tour, my gratitude for the members grew stronger and I think this was a valuable chance for me to look back at myself.

Q56. In which moment do you feel like the members are cool? J-hope-san’s dances are really awesome! Especially his performance in “MIC Drop”, one of the songs from our 8th single released in December, so please pay a lot of attention to him.

SUGA

Q57. If you were to compare yourself to a color? Blue. I liked it since a long time ago and I think it suits me too. And It makes people feel bright and purified so I want to be the color blue.

Q58. When you contact, do you call or text? I don’t really like calling so I don’t call much. I think I only call for 10 minutes a month. I just go simple with texting.

Q59. Do you eat what you like first or do you save it for later? I have never thought when I eat. (laughs) Maybe not right from the beginning but a little later?

Q66. The first song you made? I composed for the first time by self-learning when I was 13, I think it was a hip hop track. Q67. Favorite time of the day? When I fall asleep. I feel at ease and my heart flutters a bit before I climb on my bed to sleep. Q68. How do you refresh yourself when making music? I play computer games, play with my phone or drink my favorite coffee~ Q69. Do you have your own way of drinking coffee? I don't like sweet stuff that much so first of all, I won't put sugar in. And since I like the smell of coffee beans, I go with black, putting nothing extra in. I especially like drinking coffee in my studio. (laughs) Oh and doesn't it feel unusual and fun to drink coffee after brushing your teeth? (laughs) Q70. The hairstyle you like the most among the ones you have tried so far? Speaking of colors, I think... I like black the most... (laughs) I like my natural hair color. Q71. Favorite lyrics in BTS songs? I relate to the "It's okay to lose" part. (in "Fire") Q72. Your own treasure? The equipment for making music in my studio. And the watch I'm wearing right now. It’s what I planned to buy in elementary school, that I would work hard on the music path and buy it later, so I must wear this when I make music to remind myself of my initial mindset. Q73. The most recent time you cried? I don't cry because I'm emotional but.. Uhm.. I yawned 10 minutes ago and the tears came out! (laughs) Q74. If you have a day for yourself in Japan? I want to visit a whiskey distillery! I heard my favorite author, Murakami Haruki, likes whiskey and even wrote a travelogue with the theme of whiskey, so I became interested in it. Q75. In which moment do you feel your friendship with the members? When we gather and play games during the time we have no schedule. I'm not good at games so I like playing with many people. Q76. The member that you feel like is cute lately? Jungkook. I find it cute how he's the youngest but he's slowly becoming an adult. When I first met Jungkook he was in middle school, he used to not be able to organize what he wanted to say during interviews, but seeing how well he answers now feels cool to me.

J-HOPE

Q60. BTS song that has the best choreography? “Save Me” and “DNA”. The house steps in “Save Me” dance break is really cool and my sister also said “That dance is the best”. (laughs) For “DNA” I think it’s one of the few perfect choreographies even for BTS.

Q61. What do you pay attention to during a performance? Face expression, the dynamic of the movement. Sticking to details to express the vibe of the song.

Q62. A song that makes you want to dance along? Post Malone ft. 21 Savage’s “Rockstar”.

Q88. A place you want to travel to again? Sapporo, I have been there a few times to perform, but my dream is to one day travel there on a personal trip and go into the hot spring surrounded by the snow scenery!

Q89. How do you spend time while moving? Sometimes I just sleep, sometimes I watch movies, it depends. When I went back and forth between Korean and Japan from May to July,, I wrote songs or lyrics in the plane.

Q90. Must-eat food when you come to Japan? Ramen and meat. And I like grilled eel rice the most!

Q91. Secret to your amazing smile? Hearing that makes me embarrassed. (laughs) Basically the best is to enjoy and be positive. I believe that when we smile we’ll become happier so maybe that shows on my face.

Q92. Favorite shoes at the moment? I like shoes so I bought several pairs of sneakers recently. Among them there were one pair made from several materials and colors, I fell in love with it from first sight!

Q93. Favorite fragrance recently? Fresh scent, I’m currently using mint hand soap.

Q94. A member that you think is cool? RM and V who have special interest for fashion. But the other members also have their own styles so they’re cool as well.

Q95. Favorite sports? Tennis which I played from 4th year to 6th year of elementary school. The reason I started playing tennis was a little bit special... When the teacher stood in front of the class and asked “Anyone who wants to play tennis?”, I happened to be stretching with both arms out. The teacher mistook it as me signing up so I got in. (laughs) I started playing tennis again this summer and it’s refreshing and fun!

Q96. Personal goal in 2018? Releasing the mixtape which I’m preparing. And becoming more skilled at Japanese.

Q97. If you could experience another job for one day? Tennis player. I couldn’t do well even when I practiced in elementary school, so I consider entering the Wimbledon championship is a dream of dream. (laughs)

Q98. A member that you feel like has especially grown up lately? Jungkook’s face has become more evident ever since he turned 20. When I first saw the music video of “DNA” released in Korea, he was so cool that I was shocked!

RM

Q63. A place you have never been to that you want to travel too? I want to go to Kyoto! A friend of mine who traveled to Japan invited me to go there. Q64. Must-have item that you carry along for relaxing purpose when you go overseas? Pilates practice DVD. I watch and stretch before I sleep inside the hotel room.

Q65. Speaking habit? “Actually~. I think I say it to make time for myself to arrange thoughts. It’s like “Ano” (That~) in Japanese?

Q77. A recent trivial worry or doubt? The webtoons are too good that I end up staying up all night with my phone on one hand. And doubts for Jungkook and V! Jungkook changes his hobby every month. V’s selection of words are a little peculiar, it’s amazing. Sometimes he surprises me with his use of new expressions. (laughs)

Q78. A subject you were bad at at school? Math and English. The only subjects I had to go to cram schools for outside class were these two. I slowly got more familiar with English but I didn’t have any progress with Math until the end. (laughs)

Q79. Something personal that made you happy recently? I rode a bike along the Han river on a nice day. I felt very happy enjoying the wind and riding bike.

Q80. Food you eat the most often when eating out? Meat! I mean meat-nim! (laughs) I like meat sliced really thin like it’s shaved and then grilled.

Q81. A Japanese word you learned recently and want to use? 木漏れ日 (sunshine beaming through the trees). I think it’s cool how it’s light from the sun, but i doesn’t shine fiercely but rather friendly.

Q82. Something you want to learn at the moment? Acoustic guitar! Given how it creates raw sound, it’s a straight and honest instrument.

Q83. If you can only bring one thing to a deserted island? V. He's not dependable but... What should I say... If V's there I definitely won't be bored (laughs) And flip-flops (bi-san = beach sandals/flip-flops or V-san, similar pronunciation) are great too, since the sandy beach will be hot.

Q84. A person you respect? My father. I have never seen my father and mother fighting in front of me. When I told them I want to make music, they supported me and told me go for it.

Q85. Birthday memories of 2017? We were invited as guests to the Seoul concert of The Chainsmokers who we collaborated with in the song “Best Of Me”. I was surrounded by people I cherish so it felt like the biggest birthday party in my life?

Q86. The most memorable song of BTS? “Danger” which we released in Korea in 2014. It was when we were desperately trying as group. It has really cool dances so please watch it!

Q87. Something you cherish the most as a leader? Memories with the members. Because we made it through the hardship together, so we can still think of each other and move forward even now.

BTS

Q99. Memorable Christmas memory?

RM: I remember when I was 6, I heard that our family would travel on Christmas and I asked “Will Santa grandpa be able to come?” Since we were travelling to the country, I was worried. (laughs) SUGA: When I was small, our family would gather and have a meal together. After I started living away from them, it began to feel like a wonderful memory. JIN: When I went to the ski resort with my parents and brother. It was our regular Christmas trip when I was in elementary school. J-HOPE: There was a year when it snowed a lot on Christmas. The white Christmas I wished for! I remember making snowman with my family and laughing and chatting. JIMIN: I want to spend a memorable Christmas in the future. The snow is memorable! It’s the best to play at the ski resort and finish by watching the night scenery. V: I think many people spend Christmas as couples but I’m always alone ever since I was born. (laughs) When I was in school, I would go to the PC room with my usual friends and play games or eat noodles. I pretended to be tough like “PC room for Christmas!”. (laughs) JUNGKOOK: One year I was sleeping with my brother and when I opened my eyes slightly, I saw a grandpa with white beard! I thought “Santa really came” and went to sleep with a very happy mood.

Q100. What do you want to achieve, to try as BTS in 2018?