After returning with the album ARIRANG, BTS has continued to reaffirm their status as one of the world's biggest K-pop superstars, even after 13 years of activity and despite a group hiatus of more than three years due to mandatory military service. Their three recent victories at the AMAs, including the prestigious Artist of the Year award, along with a sold-out world tour and a string of recent Billboard No. 1 achievements, are the clearest proof of the group's strength at this moment.

Looking at those accomplishments, many people might αѕѕume that BTS's comeback journey unfolded smoothly. However, the stories RM revealed during his livestream on the 28th painted a completely different picture. He summed up the creation of ARIRANG by saying: "I think it's a miracle that the album even came out like this. We pulled it off without a single member dropping out."

Meanwhile, one of the topics that drew the most attention from fans was RM's emotional story about BTS on the day Jin was discharged from the military. At that time, while Jin had completed his service, the remaining members still had nearly a year left before finishing theirs. According to RM, the group's emotional state was far from stable, and "we all gathered together...I think it was Jimin's house. We all gathered at Jimin's place."

He still vividly remembers seeing Jungkook break down in tears while telling him that he needed to do his best to lead the team and keep BTS united. "At that time, Jungkook was also going through a really tough period. Well, we were all having a hard time since we were all still active-duty sol∂ιєrs (private first clαѕѕ). Jungkook was crying his eyes out, telling me to do my best to lead and hold the team together. We all cried. We talked about things like that, and we had a lot of deep conversations among ourselves," RM recalled.

When RM brought up that moment of Jungkook crying while expressing his wish to "hold the team together," many fans were immediately reminded of another emotional Jungkook story with a remarkably similar theme. It was the time when j-hope decided to leave the group shortly before BTS's debut!

According to j-hope, he had seriously considered giving up his dream with BTS because things were not going the way he had hoped. "Before debuting, I had decided to leave the group. I told my members and they were truly ѕнσ¢кed." What stood out even more was Jungkook's reaction! j-hope once shared: "Jungkook hugged me and started to cry, begging me not to go. He fell asleep right by my side that night."

Meanwhile, as the group's leader, RM did everything he could to bring j-hope back. He spoke with Big Hit Entertainment and emphasized how important j-hope was to the team. In the end, both Big Hit and the members successfully persuaded the rapper to return. The rest, as they say, is history!

But what is most noteworthy here is that both times Jungkook broke down in tears were moments when he felt that BTS's seven-member lineup was at risk of falling apart—and that speaks volumes about how deeply he cherishes and loves his members. Whether he was 15-year-old Jungkook or 27-year-old Jungkook, there has always been one constant in his heart and mind: protecting BTS, keeping BTS together, and continuing forward with all seven members by his side.

Now, fans understand even more clearly the bright smiles Jungkook has shown whenever he stands on stage with his hyungs throughout the past few months. They could not help but become emotional, commenting:

- One thing about jungkook is he would cry his hearrt to protect BTS. Even when they were struggling so badly, BTS was still the first thing on their minds.

- Now you know Jungkook has never ℓσѕт his smile once ever since he got back on stage. He loves BTS so much. OMG that’s his family

- They have been through so much individually and as a group . That’s real family energy. They carried so much, but still had each other through it all

- Thank you so much baby Jungkook, thank you Hobi, thank you Bangtan, you guys are still together

- My goodness!! When I see Jung Kook all grown up & remember his innocent dove eyes I’m happy he found brothers who protected him & guided him. Jhope was his rock & Joonie his inspiration. I’m happy they can be together again

- I am so glad jk and bts had namjoon because thsi makes me cry some fans rook them for granted as if they were on a vacay while internally they were struggling i wish i could do smth...!!

- We can't understand enough how much they needed each other in their life. Sure they have вℓσσ∂ family, will have love partners but the space filled these 7 in their life is inerasable. They went through their teenage age & become adults together enduring hell of hardship

- They are healing now. Especially watching them goofing around on the stage, doing things they like, just being happy is all what we want too.. I really hope that they dont have to ever go through another such tough time ever again

- The fact that Jungkook cried both before BTS's debut and during military service over the same thing—keeping BTS together—says everything about his heart. Some things never change

- 15-year-old Jungkook begging j-hope not to leave, and 27-year-old Jungkook crying while asking RM to keep the team together... his love for BTS has remained constant through every stage of his life

- He cried when he thought he might lose the people he considers family. He has always loved BTS with his whole heart. Our Golden Maknae forever