Jimin: "Go on your own path even if you live for a day."

Jimin: "There is beauty in everything, just that not everyone sees it."

Jimin: “Taking in the pretty scenery as I run and sweat helped me undergo a lot of change. I was able to think less and become more positive.”

Jimin: "I like pushing my body physically and sweating it out. I’m really into running these days. I usually run at night. When I run, taking in the cool breeze and the smell of grass, all my trivial thoughts disappear."

Jimin: "There are so many moments that are unbelievable to me, even now. I still remember so clearly how our concert venues got bigger and bigger, how our international fans would sing along with us in our language, and even how we’d fly through the air on stage. There was also a particular moment that really moved me. It’s harder than you think to see people’s faces when you’re on stage. But it’s such a thrill when you can see those who hadn’t looked happy at the beginning of the concert laughing by the end. It’s very moving. These are the kinds of experiences that motivate me to keep performing."

Jimin: “I like clothes, but I tend to buy them for my fans’ enjoyment. I can’t go anywhere these days to show them off, so I only buy sweatsuits.”

Jimin: “Hmm, I think it’s become filled with a lot of abstract things. For example, I’m curious about human relationships, something many people are interested in. I want to explore the nature of relationships. I like talking about topics like this.”

Jimin: “I prefer making specific goals over general ones, but these days I’m not thinking too far ahead. After all, we don’t know what changes are coming or when they’ll take place. The most important thing for now is making sure we’re ready for our upcoming concert, our first physical concert in two years.”

Jimin: “I usually prefer simple, solid colours, but this time I’ve gone for something more adventurous. It was fun. Difficult to get away with, though.”

Jimin: "I finally realized, so I love me, not so perfect but so beautiful. I’m the one I should love."

Jimin: "I cried a lot, was exhausted and thought about giving up frequently. As the day passes by, I want to develop and show you all a better side of me."

Jimin: "I’ve changed a little. Maybe I’ve found a sense of calm? I used to think it would be nice to spend some time alone, letting time drift by like flowing water, but I think I’m able to do that now. I’m enjoying my time alone without doing much."

Jimin: "'Sharing' is the first word that comes to mind when I think of performing. A performance isn’t just something to be seen. I share a wide range of feelings that can’t fully be expressed in words, and I’m not the only one doing the sharing. The rest of the members, the audience, the staff – we’re all sharing in the moment. It’s truly fascinating. Because we haven’t been able to do this for a long time, I have really high expectations for our upcoming concert. I’m so curious how I’ll feel when I finally stand on stage."

Jimin: "I remember. I had just discovered the joy of running. When I stop to catch my breath after a hard run, I listen to music for ten, even thirty, minutes. Then I run back home, wash up, and go to sleep feeling refreshed. This has become something of a routine for me, so now I only feel like the day is finished if I’ve gone for a night run. Did I do this last night? Yes, of course."

Jimin: "No matter how hard it is right now, think of what the result will make you feel."

[On developing his singing]

Jimin: “It’s difficult for me to be satisfied with my voice. Songs that require a lot of technique, which I like, are difficult to nail and hard to sing when performing live, so I’m trying to find an alternative. I was focusing on having my own unique style before developing a solid foundation. So, I’m going back to the beginning. I’m trying to keep it simple and straightforward. This process is tough but also enjoyable because I’m able to go over everything with Jungkook, who’s doing an excellent job as the main vocalist. I’m happy to have these conversations with him and happy to be able to develop and push myself further.”

Jimin: "I did some CrossFit before focusing on cardio, and I actually feel stronger. It’s also brought greater stability to my dancing. Perhaps it’s because of my increased core strength, but I’ve noticed that I have better balance now."

Jimin: "I think it took me a long time to calm my nerves. It took around four or five months, I guess, but after we kept dealing with it and talking with each other, I think that’s when we got used to the new normal and our new selves."

[On what he has done during his downtime during the Pandemic]

Jimin: “I thought about myself, what I liked, what I didn’t like, what my preferences were. I had a lot of time for reflection, and I learnt a lot. These days, I’m more than just fine. I feel I’m allowed to be happy.”

Jimin: "I don't think of myself that valuable. I think of the others who I love are valuable to me."

[On how the COVID-19 Pandemic has affected him]

Jimin: “The past two years have turned out to be almost endless. I’m still young, but for most of my life all I’ve done is perform on stage. I worked really hard because I wanted to be good at it, but suddenly it was taken away from me, and this made me sad. I have limited life experience, and I don’t want to overstate things, but it felt like my whole life’s work was being negated."

[On how the COVID-19 Pandemic has affected him]

Jimin: "The lack of feedback from a live audience was discouraging. I worked hard, but nothing felt quite right, and everything seemed like a rehearsal. It just didn’t feel real. During our recent concerts, I kept thinking, ‘Is this OK? Can I keep on doing this? Is this what we’ve been working toward?’ Of course, I don’t consider an online concert to be a practice session, but it still made me think about these questions."

[On what he's discovered about himself during the Pandemic]

Jimin: “That I’m very lazy! Taking a shower feels like such a chore, so I take off one layer of clothing and walk around for half an hour before shedding another layer.”

Jimin: "In the past I tried really hard to be no-frills, and by focusing less on trying something new and more on avoiding mistakes, I prevented myself from advancing any further."

Jimin: "I realized that we’ve been telling people to really love themselves and telling them to be stronger. This year, I began to tell myself these things as well, and convincing myself that this is also something I need to keep in mind."

Jimin: “I didn’t have any hobbies back then, and I was distressed whenever I left the stage. That was probably why. But now I don’t ask that question anymore. Instead, I work out every day and meet friends, and I’m content with that."

Jimin: "I started running, and at first I felt like I was dying after 2.5km. But now I can run as far as 8km. The reason I got into running was that the sound of the breeze silenced my inner voice. I used to hate being alone because there were too many thoughts going around in my head, and it scared me, but now I feel I need time alone. Running helps clear my mind.”

[On dancing]

Jimin: "It was my own space where I could go to a different world, where I didn’t have to think about other things. It was something that I could really immerse myself into. And it made me feel really free. And it made me really happy. And then even after I debuted and I still have those feelings and those emotions, dancing is the best answer."

Jimin: "If your heart has grown bigger, that also means you have also let go and emptied out many things. This shows that you have let go of the bad things and are left with nothing but happiness and freedom."

[On personality differences in the band, he notably also identifies as an introvert]

Jimin: "We all had different personalities, personalities that clash. And I, for example, may consider myself to be a little bit slower, more contemplative or more introverted. And then there are other members who want do things much faster. They’re much more active and outgoing. And then there are other guys who are even more introverted and even slower than I am. So, of course, these personalities continued to clash. I think we’ve all come to develop an understanding that it is OK to have these differences, that some people are going to be slow, and some people are going to be fast."

Jimin: "I feel that we are only running forward without rest. I hope that we can find time to relax and smile a bit more."

Jimin: "I don’t think I’ve ever really thought of being not a part of this group. I can’t imagine what I would do on my own, what I would do without the team. Even before we debuted my goal was to continue to work with these people, to continue to sing with these people. I think when I become older, and I grow my own beard, I would like to think that at the end, when I’m too old to dance, I would just like to sit onstage with the other members and sing and engage with the fans. And communicate with the fans. I think that would be great, too."

Jimin: “I am really so happy when I see the thousands of fans in the crowd. It’s so beautiful. The view that I have from the stage is like a pretty sunset. I get frustrated when I can’t express just how happy I am through expression or words.”

Jimin: "I want to grow further and faster so I can show them a really great performance. In my head, I was telling the fans, 'I'll do the better real soon'."

[On his experience singing the vocals when recording his 2017 song, Serendipity]

Jimin: "And I just remember the recording process being very difficult because of how hard I tried to make sure that I focused on all of these details, making sure that they are expressed in the song."

Jimin: "It's alright if you started from right now. It's alright if you're in a good mood. It's alright if you do everything you want to do. It's alright if you miss Bangtan. Just be happy."

*NOTE: Some of the quotes listed on this page are translated*