There is a fact everyone knows: Jin is the oldest member of BTS. Among today’s K-pop idols, he is also considered one of the most senior in terms of career longevity. However, this is also a fact people often forget. Although Jin is the oldest in BTS, he feels like a peer to the other members, even with the youngest ones, thanks to his humor and playful personality.
In his individual interview with Rolling Stone, Jin admitted that despite being the oldest, he doesn’t behave like a “traditional elder,” and the members don’t really treat him strictly according to age hierarchy. “But when they act all friendly, calling me brother, and they treat me comfortably, that’s what I like the most,” he explained.
In addition, his “Worldwide Handsome” title and seemingly ageless skin often make fans perceive Jin as much younger than his actual age. And his youthful image has led fans to overlook an important truth: Jin actually holds a highly respected position within the group!
In кσяєα, age-based hierarchy is a strict and fundamental cultural principle that strongly influences social behavior and etiquette. Under this system, younger members are, in theory, expected to respect, listen to, and prioritize Jin’s opinions. In many situations, the position of the eldest, Jin, would typically take precedence.
However, Anton Hur—who closely collaborated with BTS on the memoir Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS—offered a different perspective on how Jin uses his “senior” status, revealing an admirable aspect of his character. Hur stated that Jin possesses the “power of being the oldest,” but more importantly, he has consistently chosen not to impose that power on the members throughout the years.
"In the book, Jin expresses having to confront a feeling of insecurity, a concern that he was the weakest link in the K-pop group. This was so surprising to me because he is the eldest in a group of boys", Hur began. "So "by default, [in ḳöŕệän culture], he should feel the most entitled. He should feel like he's the biggest deal. But he doesn't feel that way. He has all of the responsibilities of being the eldest but, at the same time, he doesn't seem to enjoy the privileges of being the eldest [with] that feeling of security", he continued.
Then, Hur also expressed: "That was very, very moving to me, that he would go on the record saying this, because this can be misconstrued in so many different ways. But he trusted ARMY enough to say this, and for them to understand where he is coming from". In author's view, that moment strongly represents BTS’s deep awareness of humility, regardless of how much success they have achieved.
"It is so easy to slip into a sense of deep entitlement when you become successful and to get angry at every single little thing that doesn't go your way", Hur explained. "But, for Jin-and for BTS, in general-they went in the opposite direction," the translator stated. "The more successful they got, the more humble they became, and the more critica they became of how they did things. Not in a self-hating kind of way, but in a way that you can tell that they're constantly questioning themselves, looking at reach, and trying to reevaluate what success means to them".
Hur’s observations are further supported by Jin himself. In a conversation with Lee Young Ji, he once shared the secret behind BTS’s success and longevity: "One of the reasons why we are so successful is that each of the members concedes what he wants to do for the other members."
He also implied that the so-called “celebrity syndrome” is a real issue that can break a group’s harmony—and fortunately, BTS does not suffer from it. As he put it: "It’s hard to maintain a team if there is a person who wants to do whatever he wants as he thinks he is successful. However, each one of us does not cross the line and concedes what he wants to do for the other members. I think that’s why we can maintain our team".
From the perspective of someone involved in documenting BTS’s story, along with Jin’s own words, it is clear that he values placing the group’s collective good above individual desires. He does not believe he is always right simply because he is the oldest. Instead, he treats the members as equals to maintain harmony, while also preserving his humility and growth mindset.
Following Jin, the other members behave in a similar way, allowing them to avoid serious conflicts or resolve any disagreements peacefully. Ultimately, this close bond is at the core of BTS’s long-term success as a group.
On the other hand, the lack of rigid hierarchy does not mean that younger members are allowed to be disrespectful or rude. On the contrary, they are fully aware of when to joke around and when to show respect and proper manners toward Jin and the older members. They have also acknowledged that they have learned a great deal from the eldest member and hold him in the highest regard.
In conclusion, if anyone were to ask what the secret is behind BTS maintaining their friendship for over a decade while achieving success together, the translator’s insights above may be the clearest answer!
