The Performance Director Close to BTS Reveals Why Jungkook Received Specialized Training From the Company

 

Jungkook first caught the public's attention when he auditioned for Superstar K at the age of 15. Soon afterward, he was approached by BigHit and dozens of other entertainment companies. Ultimately, however, a chance encounter with RM helped him decided to join BigHit Entertainment.

At the time, talent scouts could already see that Jungkook had tremendous potential. However, having potential did not mean he was already a star from the very beginning The reality is that, back then, Jungkook had yet to develop the exceptional, well-rounded skills in singing, dancing, and stage performance tha he is known for today. 

Fortunately, someone recognized early on just how much he could achieve with proper training from a young age. That person was none other HYBE performance director Son Seungdeuk, who has also served as BTS's dance instructor and choreographer since the group's early days! In an interview with the YouTube channel OK POP, Son Seungdeuk revealed in detail for the first time why he asked Bang PD to send Jungkook to the United States for training.

Son explained that BTS was initially envisioned as a group that would  make hip-hop based music and that, to fully capture its essence, they believe it was important to experience American culture firsthand. He said, "It was when Chairman Bang Sihyuk placed great importance on performance. Since there were plans for BTS to make hip-hop based music, the United States naturally came to mind first when we thought about hip-hop. So he said that it would be really important to experience America's hip-hop culture firsthand."

Despite carrying an enormous amount of debt, Bang PD seemed to regard BTS as his ultimate passion project. He therefore invested tremendeous effort in creating music for Bangtan, including study in American hip-hop. This eventually let him to approve Son Seungdeuk's proposal to travel to the United States with one BTS member. As we now know, Son chose to bring Jungkook along, and the two spent a month experiencing American life an culture.

When asked why he chose the young Jungkook over the other members, Son began by emphasizing how much potential the youngest member had at such a young age, adding, "But he was (at the first time) too young to sing or dance perfectly."

Son Seungdeuk vividly remembers realizing that Jungkook's potential had yet to be fully unlocked. That was why he took the youngest member to the United States, hoping to expose him to the local music culture and help him develop his abilities. He also recalled, "We both wen to dance studios together, wearing backpacks on our shoulders. We observed what Americans ate and what the atmosphere was like at the dance studios, etc. Jungkook was so shy back then, before he made his debut."

"After that, Jungkook's potential really exploded," Son shared. He added, "When he returned to Korea, his potential was clearly demonstrated. He had so many talents, so we had even higher expectations for him in the future."

At the time, Son Seungdeuk, Bang PD, and the other BTS members all had high hopes for their "golden maknae." As it turned out, Jungkook has never disappointed them.

Son also praised Jungkook's dancing skills today, saying, "Jungkook's has great strength, his movements are skillful, and he himself knows how to move. He dances really well. He's very good at adding details to the choreography to make it more attractive. He also has a strong foundation."

The strong foundation was the result of early training that allowed Jungkook's potential to fully blossom. Looking back, Son Seungdeuk and Bang PD's decision all those years ago proved to be the right one.

HYBE has since applied the lessons learned from Jungkook's success to the training of its next generation of idols. Son Seungdeuk revealed that TXT members Yeonjun and Taehyun were also sent to the United States for training before their debut. He concluded, "Because Jungkook set a successful example at the time, all trainees go to the States for training now."