What does it take to become an idol? – hundred liters of unique talent, five tonnes of patience and resilience, a gallon of dedication, hard work, and practice, a truckload of sacrifices and compromises, and infinite belief in oneself.
Imagine the toll it would take on a person, let alone teenagers, who enroll as trainees in the cut-throat artist manufacturing machines. This well-oiled mechanism has worked for generations, simultaneously raising grave concerns over the idols’ mental health.
Even though the industry has come a long way from slave contracts, mistreatment by the agency, strenuous schedules, and more, there are still a lot of cracks to be filled in the K-pop world, especially idols being hard on themselves, the diet culture, defying beauty standard, online bullying and malicious comments, among several perils of operating in a digital world.
One group that has risen from a small company to making the world their oyster is a testament to the bond between the idols and the agency that helped them achieve this great success. Conquering the world, BTS has two central support systems– ARMY and BigHit, who never gave up on the boys even when they had no money.
For the baby ARMYs, this anecdote will surely bring tears to your eyes– in 2015, BTS was on the verge of disbanding due to lack of funds, even though “I Need You” was their first song to smash charts and win them their first award.
But the BigHit managers and staff came to the rescue and lent their cars to film music videos. Cut to the present, we get more insight into their unwavering bond.
This is where our story takes us into the heart of HYBE’s latest release, ‘HYBE T&D Story,’ featuring none other than BTS’s very own Kim Namjoon. Hold onto your hats because what Namjoon spills in this documentary is not just tea – it’s the whole teapot.
In the labyrinth of what-ifs and could-have-beens, a pivotal moment could have altered this iconic band’s course. It’s about Jimin, the group’s dynamo, and Namjoon’s heartfelt confessions regarding his role.
In a heartfelt revelation, BTS’s leader Namjoon expressed his deep gratitude towards Shin Seon-Jeong, head of HYBE’s T&D team, for retaining Jimin during their trainee days, stating that without Jimin, “BTS would have been a disaster.”
Unveiling the Bond: Inside BTS’s Training Days
Namjoon’s words in the documentary throw light on an often overlooked aspect of idol life – the intense training and the crucial decisions made behind the scenes. He draws a poetic comparison, likening the relationship between T&D and trainees to “Romeo and Juliet.” But why this dramatic analogy?
Namjoon explains, “They love each other but they can’t meet. Honestly, the trainees don’t love the team. They only realize they do after they debut.” These words, quoted directly from the documentary, reveal the complex dynamics at play in the making of a K-pop star.
But let’s focus on the Jimin angle here. Remember when Jimin once disclosed his near-misses with his debut? He was almost kicked out eight times! That’s where Shin Seon-Jeong comes in as the guardian angel.
Namjoon’s acknowledgment of her role in keeping Jimin in the group underscores a critical decision that shaped BTS’s destiny. He says, “She is one of the guardian angels who kept Jimin in the group at that time; to be honest, making him stay was basically to protect BTS.”
It’s a tale of perseverance, talent recognition, and the intricate balance between individual skills and group synergy. It’s a reminder of the fragile threads that hold together the tapestry of their favorite bands.
In his usual style of beautifully carving his thoughts in a poetic yarn, I leave you with Namjoon’s golden words–
“If you compare the growth of an artist to a tree. Old trees have very wide and deep roots, and I think those roots grow from gratitude, love, and respect for the staff around them.”
Can you imagine a BTS without Jimin’s unique flair? How do you think it would have impacted their global success?
What are your thoughts on the intense training regimen and the life-altering decisions made by management teams like HYBE’s T&D?
How do these behind-the-scenes revelations affect your perception of the K-pop industry and the idols you admire? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
