BTS member Jungkook is set to release his first solo album after a decade since his debut.
Jungkook will release his first full album 'GOLDEN' on November 3 at 1 PM (KST). The album will feature a total of 11 tracks, including the digital single 'Seven' released on July 14th and the single '3D' released on September 29th. The tracklist will be unveiled on October 16th.
His previous single 'Seven' achieved remarkable success, securing the top spot on the US Billboard Hot 100, iTunes Top Song charts in 106 countries and regions, and becoming the first Korean solo artist to top Spotify's Daily Global Top Songs chart. Following this, his single '3D' also dominated both domestic and international music charts. Given these achievements, global K-pop fans have high expectations for the album Jungkook will release next month.
Ahead of the album release, Jungkook conveyed through Big Hit Music, "I want to explore all the music I can with my voice. I want to present many good songs to you all. I felt overwhelmed by the immense love for 'Seven', but it also gave me the courage to take on new challenges. I want to continue working hard to deliver more great songs."
▲ From the Owner of the Golden Closet to Global Pop Star: The Growth of Golden Maknae Jungkook
The album title 'GOLDEN' signifies 'made of gold', 'special', 'precious', and 'wonderful'. Through this album, inspired by his golden moments, Jungkook aims to fully reveal his identity and colors as a solo artist.
On a live broadcast on the fan communication platform Weverse on October 4th, Jungkook explained, "The term 'golden' has been an adjective associated with me since my debut. I feel that this current phase of my life is like a golden period, and in some ways, it feels like a golden time, which is why I named the album 'GOLDEN'."
For Jungkook, 'GOLDEN' holds a special significance. In 2011, at the age of 15, he auditioned for Mnet's 'Superstar K' Season 3, singing 2AM's 'This Song'. Although he was eliminated in the preliminaries and edited out of the main broadcast, he received offers from seven entertainment agencies, recognizing his potential. Among them, he chose to train under Big Hit Entertainment (now under HYBE's music label Big Hit Music) and debuted as a BTS member in June 2013.
Despite being the youngest in the team, he earned the title of 'Golden Maknae' due to his musical prowess, which was on par with his talented older members. Fans often highlight Jungkook's unique voice, powerful performances, dynamic dance moves, and consistent live singing skills. In a 2016 interview, regarding his 'Golden Maknae' nickname, he expressed, "I'm grateful for the nickname, but it also feels like a huge responsibility. I feel I have many areas to improve. I want to continue learning and growing to live up to that title."
Seven years have passed since then, but his continuous growth and transformation are evident. During a live broadcast, he shared about the album preparation process, "There are a total of 11 tracks. Initially, I thought of it as an EP (mini album). But as I worked hard, it became a full album. I've been practicing hard to show you all. I've been grinding and pushing myself. I feel my stamina has decreased compared to the past, especially during dance practices. But I can't stop trying. I believe the title track for this release is quite challenging, but it's also amazing. I think you all will love it. You can look forward to it. I'm confident."
Jungkook's first workspace was also named 'Golden Closet'. During BTS's group dormitory days, he began working on songs secretly in a room with a closet. He self-taught piano and included it in 'Outro: Love is Not Over', which was featured in BTS's 2015 album 'The Most Beautiful Moment in Life pt.1', marking his foundation as a singer-songwriter. He also recorded various cover songs in this space and released them for free on SoundCloud. The name of the channel where he released self-shot and edited videos was 'Golden Closet Film'.
He set up an official workspace in 2017. After announcing at the '2017 Melon Music Awards' that he had his workspace and would work hard on the next album, he actively participated in creating 'Magic Shop', which was included in BTS's 2018 album LOVE YOURSELF 轉 'Tear'. He also contributed to songs like 'My Time', 'Stay', and 'Run BTS', consistently making his mark in BTS album credits.
▲ "Initially, I was the golden one..." Jungkook's Golden Hue
Even in his 11th year since debut, Jungkook's essence remains unchanged: BTS and ARMY (BTS's official fandom). On October 7th, he released the third concept photo 'SUBSTANCE' for 'GOLDEN'. The background featured numbers and symbols special to him, emphasizing that BTS and ARMY are the roots of his musical journey.
Jungkook is known as a die-hard fan of BTS and ARMY. In 2018, during BTS's self-produced content 'Run BTS!', he wrote a poem with the theme of gold, expressing his gratitude for the golden moments and the support he received.
His self-composed songs also contain lyrics that confess his genuine feelings to the fans. In his 2020 song 'Still With You', released to commemorate BTS's 7th debut anniversary, he sang about the special bond he shares with the fans. In another song released last year, 'My You', he expressed his gratitude for the unwavering support from the fans.
A decade may change landscapes, but as he approaches his 10th anniversary, Jungkook dreams of continuing to be a comforting and inspiring 'Magic Shop' for the fans. On a live broadcast on the 4th, he expressed his commitment to the future with the fans, emphasizing how much he thinks about them.
He added, "Honestly, I want to look cool to you all, be a source of strength, and make you think. The reason I'm doing all this is because of you. No matter how great I am, how can I forget the foundation you've given me all this time? I know what my top priority is, and it's you."
He promised to remain committed to BTS's group activities, which will resume after 2025. "We need to be cooler so that supporting BTS feels cool. We'll train, work hard, and release albums to visit ARMYs all over the world," he said.
Jungkook emphasized, "BTS exists because of ARMY. I, and all the members, are amazing. We show these sides of ourselves, and that's why ARMYs support and love us. We naturally have to repay that support and love. Each member has a different musical color. They're all amazing people. I think I was able to grow so well because I was under such great people."
