Jungkook first caught the public’s attention when he auditioned for Superstar K at the age of 15. Soon afterward, he was approached by Big Hit and dozens of other entertainment companies. Ultimately, however, a chance encounter with RM helped him decide to join Big Hit Entertainment.
At the time, everyone scouting for potential idols could see that Jungkook had a great deal of promise. However, 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 sкιℓℓs in singing, dancing, and stage performance that he possesses today.
Fortunately, someone recognized early on just how much he could achieve with proper training from a young age. That person was none other than HYBE performance director Son Seung Deuk, who has also served as BTS’s dance teacher and choreographer since the group’s early days after debut! In an interview with the YouTube channel OK POP, Son Seung Deuk revealed for the first time in detail why he asked Bang PD to send Jungkook to the United States for training.
Son explained that the group was intended to make hip-hop-based music and that, to fully capture its essence, they believed it was necessary to experience αмєяι¢αn culture firsthand. He said, "It was when chairman Bang Si Hyuk considered highly of the importance of performance. Since there was a plan of making hip-hop base music for BTS, the United States comes to mind first in terms of hip-hop. So he said, it’d be really important to experience αмєяι¢α’s hip-hop culture firsthand."
Despite carrying an enormous amount of debt, BTS seemed to represent Bang PD’s final pαѕѕion project. He therefore invested tremendous effort into creating music for Bangtan, including studying αмєяι¢αn hip-hop. This led to his decision to allow Son Seung Deuk 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 life in αмєяι¢α.
When asked why he chose the young Jungkook over the other members, Son began by emphasizing how much potential Jungkook had at such a young age, "but he was (at that time) too young to sing or dance perfectly".
Son Seung Deuk vividly remembers the moment he realized 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 went to dance studios together, wearing backpacks on our shoulders. We observed what αмєяι¢αns ate and what the atmosphere was like at the dance studios, etc. Jungkook was so shy back then before he made a debut."
"After that, Jungkook's potential really exploded", Son shared. He added, "When he returned to кσяєα, his potential was clearly shown. He had so many talents, so we have even more expectations for him in the future."
At the time, Son Seung Deuk, 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 sкιℓℓs today, saying, "Jungkook has great strength, his movements are sкιℓℓful, 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."
That strong foundation was the result of early training that allowed Jungkook’s potential to fully blossom. Looking back, Son Seung Deuk and Bang PD’s decision all those years ago proved to be the right one.
HYBE’s management has since applied the lessons from Jungkook’s success to the training of the company’s next generation of idols. Son Seung Deuk 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."
