[magazine kave=Lee Tae-rim Reporter]
The name Park Jimin is always associated with the ‘stage’. His journey into dance was not just a simple hobby, but a quest to find the language of his heart. Born on October 13, 1995, in Busan, the boy possessed an exceptionally sensitive sense. He felt the rhythm within the scenery before he saw it with his eyes, and when music flowed, his body naturally responded. In his childhood, he entered Busan Arts High School, majoring in modern dance. From his student days, his skills stood out, and he was recognized as one of the top dancers in the school, winning awards in dance competitions and steadily preparing to stand at the center of the stage. It was a result of his talent that he was encouraged by his teacher to audition for Big Hit Entertainment. After receiving the acceptance notice, he moved to Seoul in 2012 to begin his trainee life.
Jimin was the last member to join BTS, but he developed faster than anyone else. His physical sense honed by dance soon blended into the rhythm of music, and his delicate expressiveness became the core of the performance. However, the process was never smooth. Among other members who were already close to being complete, he relentlessly pushed himself. Even after practice, he stayed alone to repeat the choreography, analyzing himself as if dissecting in front of the mirror. The ‘perfection on stage’ stemmed more from relentless self-training than from innate talent. On June 13, 2013, the day BTS debuted, Jimin stood on stage as the main dancer and lead vocalist. Under the bright white lights, he made his first step known to the world with an intensity that belied his rookie status. Since that day, he has never taken the stage lightly.
Immediately after their debut, BTS did not guarantee quick success. They were not under a major agency, and their musical direction was unfamiliar. However, within that environment, Jimin stood out. His dance was filled with emotion rather than technique, and that emotion touched the hearts of those watching the stage. As time passed, Jimin's presence became the central axis of the team. He was an artist who visually completed BTS's performances and a vocalist who amplified the emotions musically.
Around 2015, when BTS was growing, Jimin reached a musical turning point with songs like ‘I Need U’ and ‘Run’. His expressions on stage became not just acting but a ‘flow of emotions’. His ability to align every movement, even the tips of his fingers, with the emotional line of the music was uniquely his. Fans called his dance ‘narrative dance’. There was a story in his performances. Whether it was sadness or joy, the amplitude of emotions was naturally conveyed through the stage. When he danced, the audience experienced not just ‘listening’ to the music but ‘seeing’ it.
Since 2016, as BTS began to receive global attention, Jimin's name also started to shine. He was not just a ‘member who dances well’ but became a presence that embodied the team's emotions. In the solo song ‘Lie’ from the 2016 ‘Wings’ album, Jimin expressed the inner voice that binds him. His dramatic vocals and stage direction were close to ‘stage art’. Through ‘Lie’, fans realized that he was not just an idol but an artist. The choreography of this song broke down the boundaries between Jimin's dance sensibility and idol performance, leaving behind his iconic scenes.
In 2018, a new world of Jimin opened with ‘Serendipity’. His warm yet delicate tone and the stage that unraveled love with cosmic emotions captivated fans worldwide. Even after the song ended, the audience could not catch their breath. He did not just sing; he visualized the ‘emotion of love’. Fans called that moment ‘the scene where Jimin becomes art’. In 2020, ‘Filter’ showcased his versatility from another angle. His ability to transform with each concept and express various selves within him was an experiment showing how far he could expand as a performer.
His performance was the final clue that completed the music. On stage, Jimin accurately reads the flow and elevates emotions. His expressions translate the lyrics into dialogue, and his movements draw the curves of emotions. That naturalness captivates people. When he twists his body, despair is felt, and when he spreads his fingertips, salvation is sensed. That is why fans call him ‘the dancer of emotions’. The depth of those emotions correlates with the amount of tears shed behind the stage. The obsession with perfection, his harsh nature towards himself, and the self-reproach after mistakes. But because of all those processes, his stage is close to perfection.
Since 2018, BTS has been climbing to the top of the Billboard charts, heading towards the center of the world. They received cheers from fans through numerous awards and tours, but even in all those moments, Jimin regarded the stage not as an ‘obligation’ but as ‘expression’. He always stayed the latest during pre-stage rehearsals. He adjusted the choreography even for small misalignments and meticulously checked every note. That is why other members call him ‘the perfectionist of the stage’.
The reason Jimin is loved by the public is not just due to his talent. His performance aims to convey ‘emotion’ beyond technique. Dance is a conversation with the audience, and singing is the language of that conversation. What he shows is not ‘beauty’ but ‘sincerity’. Fans read sincerity in his eyes. Even on stage, he does not lose warmth towards people; that is Jimin's greatest charm.
In October 2022, BTS's group activities paused for a while, and each member began their solo paths. At that time, Jimin decided to fully reveal his own world. In March 2023, he released his first solo album ‘FACE’. The album was an autobiographical record that revealed Jimin's inner self as it is. The pre-released song ‘Set Me Free Pt.2’ expressed a longing for freedom with explosive performance, and the title track ‘Like Crazy’ delicately depicted the texture of emotions. Jimin's tone matured further, and his performance expanded artistically. This song topped the Billboard Hot 100, marking a historic record as the first Korean solo artist to reach the top. Evaluations followed that ‘the world understood Jimin's emotions’.
The music video for ‘Like Crazy’ was a lyrical work that traversed the boundaries of love and loss, reality and fantasy. Fans called it ‘Jimin's movie’. On screen, he was a young man facing solitude and simultaneously an artist who sublimated emotions into art. During this time, Jimin became aware of himself as an artist. In an interview, he once said, “Every time I perform on stage, I disappear and only emotions remain.” Just as he said, his stage has always been real.
By the end of 2023, he became an ambassador for a global fashion brand, establishing himself as a notable icon in the fashion world. Even outside the stage, his sophisticated and natural presence gave rise to the term ‘Jimin style’. However, he still did not forget his essence. He emphasized that music is his center and that he is ultimately a living person on stage.
Jimin returned to the stage after his military service in December 2025. Even during his service, he did not lose connection with fans and prepared new music through sketches of self-composed songs. The complete comeback of BTS scheduled for March 20, 2026, is another beginning and return for him. This time, the color of ‘artist Park Jimin’ will be more vividly expressed within the team. He is currently working on his second solo album while expanding his musical spectrum into R&B and modern pop.
His future is described not by direction but by depth. He has already reached the top, but he continues to strive for perfection. He is always at the ‘center of emotions’. Whether behind the glamorous stage or in quiet nights, the warmth towards fans remains unchanged. Jimin's stage is not just a part of the song but the ‘completion of art’. The path he has walked has been a journey rewriting the history of performers, and the road ahead is his destiny as an artist.