SEOUL: A teenage Jungkook once dreamed of becoming a singer. More than a decade later, his voice has echoed across the world, his solo hits have topped charts and millions of fans are celebrating the journey of the BTS star as he marks another birthday.
Jungkook, whose full name is Jeon Jung-kook, made his debut with BTS in 2013 as the group’s youngest member. Since then, he has grown into one of K-pop’s biggest global stars, earning international recognition for his vocals, dancing and stage presence.
BTS went on to achieve worldwide success with hits including “Dynamite,” “Butter,” “Boy With Luv,” “Spring Day” and “Permission to Dance.” Jungkook became one of the group’s standout vocalists while also establishing himself as a successful solo artist.
His solo career reached another milestone with “Seven,” featuring Latto, followed by “3D,” featuring Jack Harlow. He later released his debut solo album, Golden, which included songs such as “Standing Next to You,” “Yes or No” and “Hate You.”
A birthday gift for fans
Ahead of his 29th birthday on Sept. 1, Jungkook surprised fans Aug. 31 by sharing a cover of Justin Bieber’s “Lifetime” on Weverse. The performance, recorded in a hotel room without separate professional sound equipment, quickly attracted attention from fans around the world.
The World Music Awards praised the cover on its official account, describing it as a special birthday gift for fans and highlighting Jungkook’s vocals.
Jungkook has previously covered several Bieber songs, including “Changes,” “Purpose,” “Nothing Like Us,” “2U,” “10,000 Hours” and “Peaches,” reflecting his long-standing admiration for the Canadian pop star.
From BTS’ youngest member to solo star
Jungkook’s rise began with BTS’ debut in 2013, when he was just 15. As the youngest member, he quickly became known for his powerful vocals, dancing skills and energetic performances.
Over the years, he developed a successful solo career alongside his work with BTS. His solo releases helped expand his audience beyond K-pop and established him as a major name in international pop music.
Military service and return
Jungkook began South Korea’s mandatory military service in December 2023 alongside fellow BTS member Jimin. The two completed their service and were discharged in June 2025 after about 18 months.
His military service temporarily put his solo and group activities on hold. Following his return, attention shifted toward BTS’ plans for renewed group activities and its highly anticipated 2026 comeback.
Fans turn birthday into global celebration
Jungkook’s birthday has become a major annual event for his international fan base, with supporters organizing elaborate celebrations across several countries.
For his 2026 birthday, fan groups arranged digital billboards, LED trucks, birthday cafes, drone displays, fireworks and other tributes across South Korea, China, the United States, Japan, Indonesia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Hungary and India.
In China, birthday advertisements were planned across 11 major cities, including Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Guangzhou and Nanjing. In New York, fans arranged hundreds of advertisements on the TSX Live Billboard in Times Square.
Fans in Los Angeles also planned LED truck campaigns around SoFi Stadium, where Jungkook is scheduled to perform. Additional advertisements were planned in Seoul, Jakarta, Tokyo, Budapest, Astana and Kolkata.
Japanese fans also organized a drone display over Tokyo, while other fan groups prepared fireworks and public birthday events.
Birthday livestream sparks fan debate
The celebrations also revived discussion surrounding Jungkook’s birthday livestream on Sept. 1, 2025.
During the more-than-hourlong Weverse broadcast, Jungkook read fan comments, answered questions and sang karaoke. Some viewers repeatedly told him to go to sleep because of the late hour.
Jungkook acknowledged the comments but explained that he wanted to stay online and spend time with fans.
“Although I’m sleepy, I’m here because I want to,” he said, according to a translation of his Korean remarks. “It feels like we’re together, and it feels good, doesn’t it?”
The repeated comments prompted frustration among other ARMYs, who argued that Jungkook is an adult capable of deciding how he spends his time. Some fans described the remarks as intrusive and called for greater respect for artists’ personal choices during livestreams.
The debate highlighted a broader conversation within the BTS fandom about the boundaries between fans’ affection and an artist’s personal autonomy.
