[BTS Gwanghwamun D-33] "Silver Voice"... Profile Series ② Jin, the Eldest Member of BTS

 Original article: Aju News

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As BTS prepares for its comeback in March, the world is once again abuzz with anticipation. News of the comeback, delivered through "Arirang," along with plans for a world tour, signals a massive phenomenon capable of generating immediate responses not only in the music industry but also across tourism and regional economies. BTS is both a global economic force and a symbolic name that elevates South Korea's national image. Ahead of this comeback, this publication presents the "BTS Profile Series," examining each member in turn and documenting the seven faces that make up BTS. <Editor's Note>

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Jin (real name: Kim Seokjin), the eldest member of BTS, is a name that embodies both the longest endurance and the firmest emotional steadiness within the team. As a sub-vocalist, he supports the group's sound, and offstage, he has consistently played a role in gently harmonizing the team's atmosphere. Known as an official "visual" member, his neat and gentle appearance has become an icon in itself. Yet Jin's true strength begins with his voice. 

His tone, described as a "silver voice" by popera tenor "Kim Hyung-joo," is clear and pure. He moves seamlessly between chest voice, falsetto, and head voice, and his restrained vocal projection leaves each syllable distinct. Rather than emphasizing technical flourishes, he conveys emotion through natural vibrato and precise diction. Even within BTS's songs, which often feature high vocal ranges, Jin maintains unwavering stability, sustaining the emotional core of each track to the end. This is why he is frequently praised for having "a voice that resonates in the heart."

If Jin's voice served as a central pillar supporting the group's narrative in BTS's albums, in his solo work, that voice itself becomes the narrative. While his method of delivering emotion remains refined and uncluttered, his perspective has grown more personal and his expression more candid. This shift marks the point at which Jin began to define himself more clearly as a "vocalist."

His music has increasingly taken on the character of personal confession. The self-composed song "Tonight," released during the 2019 FESTA period, marked the beginning of this transformation. Inspired by memories of a beloved pet, the dong prioritizes lyrical melody and gentle vocals over displays of high notes, compressing emotion into a restrained form. As the third self-written track among the vocal line, it allowed Jin to step beyond being merely "a member who sings well" and move closer to becoming "a vocalist who sings his own story."

The first chapter of his journey as a solo artist opened in October 2022 with the single "The Astronaut," created in collaboration with Coldplay. Built in a pop-rock foundation, the song blends gentle accoustic guitar with gradually layered synth sounds. Jin participated in writing the lyrics, embedding his affection for ARMY. Reuniting with global artists following "My Universe," he clearly established his presence as "vocalist Jin." It marked the beginning of a new phase distinct from his image within the group. 

Thereafter, Jin fully entered the world of albums released under his own name. In November 2024, he unveiled his first solo EP, "Happy," foregrounding the keyword "happiness." The pre-release track "I'll Be There" delivered a message of steadfast companionship over a lively rockabilly-baded rhythm, while the title track "Running Wild" expanded his vocal spectrum with a British new wave-inspired sound. Collabprariibs with ONE OK ROCK and "Take That" songwriter Max highlighted his affinity for band-oriented music. In fan-dedicated songs such as "I Will Come To You," he personally penned the lyrics, expressing "happiness" in a manner uniquely his own. 

Released on May 16, 2025, his second mini album, "ECHO," deepened this emotional trajectory. Featuring a total of seven tracks—led by the title song "Don't Say You Love Me," along with "Nothing Without Your Love," "Loser (feat. Yena)," "Rope It," 'With the Clouds," "Background," and "To Me, Today"—the album broadens the spectrum of pop and rock through a band-centered sound. Jin once again parcticipated in writing the lyrics for many tracks, expressing love, separation, everyday choices, and emotional nuances with clarity and restraint. The resonance an enduring " echo," true to the album's title. 

His musica achievements also remain ongoing. Since its release on February 3, "Don't Say You Love Me" has surpassed 800 mollion cumulative streams on Spotify, demonstrating sustained pophlaroty, while Jin's number of Spotify followers has exceeded 10 million. From ranking first in the "Best Solo Artist" category at the Kstyle Awards 2025, to being selected for two consecutive years as "2025 K-pop Artist" by Mexico's House Radio, and winning both "Record of the Year" and "Top 20 Songs of the Year" at the 2025 Asian Pop Music Awards, Jin has established himself as a consistently consumed name rather than a fleeting sensation. 

As the eldest member and a vocalist who has proven his time through the most understarted means, Jin has defined himself not through extravagant embellishment, but through a voice that endures. His trajectory—from Jin of BTS to Jin as a solo artist—stands as a compelling reason why this "Profile Series" cannot overlook his story.