On the Occasion of World Mental Health Day: The Importance of Mental Care Behind BTS's Success (Part 2)

Jin, the eldest member, is loved for creating an exceptionally bright atmosphere and for his distinctive laugh. (In K-pop, age is emphasized, so the oldest member is referred to as the 'eldest brother'.) He was the only member to be scouted after graduating from high school. Therefore, despite being the oldest, he started as a complete beginner in both singing and dancing. The other members were all powerhouses who had been overflowing with talent in rap, dance, and singing since their middle and high school years, and were already well-known in their local areas.
In South Korea, where the hierarchy based on age is strict, one can imagine how painful it must have been for him to feel 'older yet inferior to those younger.' In 2020, he sent this message to his fans while struggling with feelings of inferiority compared to the other members.

There were times when I felt anxious because I was concerned about my peers who were moving ahead.
I tried to keep up with the pace of others,
but I ran out of breath and realized, 'This is not my pace.'
I told myself, 'Let's go slowly.'
I decided that even if it takes time, I would walk at my own pace.
Instead, it became a habit for me to take a little more time than others.
When practicing dance, I start preparing days before the other members.
If you are feeling the pressure of a new start or are lost in an unfamiliar environment, please don't rush and try stopping for a moment.
Perhaps this very moment might be a chance given to us.

Perhaps a new door opens when you can accept the feelings you have bottled up inside and express them in words. This is a message that resonates precisely because it comes from Jin, who has overcome these struggles.

Although Jin is the oldest, he acts in a way that ensures the younger members don't feel nervous or have to walk on eggshells around him, knowing that there are already members who can take on leadership roles. He chooses to be a presence that is bright and fun, which is truly wonderful.

However, even as he made such efforts and changed, media exposure and praise from those around him increased all at once, and in 2021, with the song 'Dynamite,' which made BTS world-famous, they achieved the number one spot on Billboard that they had all dreamed of. Just as he became famous in the blink of an eye, he hit a wall once again.

Signs that people who are succeeding tend to fall into

If you continue to work hard as if to compensate for a sense of inadequacy without fully acknowledging yourself, you will eventually hit a wall.

As for what kind of signs there are, for example, no matter how much praise you receive from those around you, you might feel like a fraud, experience burnout and lose sight of your goals, or feel an unnecessary sense of loneliness and shut yourself away, thinking that no one understands you.

It seems that some even want to destroy the status and honor they have worked so hard to obtain. For the average person, even if they are successful at work, this might manifest in their private life as divorce, love triangles involving affairs, family illness, bankruptcy, or corporate misconduct coming to light. And the worst-case scenario is suicide.

Even though they have achieved success, they cannot enjoy that happiness or sense of accomplishment.

Jin was also one of them.

'Do I deserve such honor? There are so many people who love music more and have more talent,' he couldn't help but think, and it became painful, making him want to let go of everything.

Fortunately for Jin, the producer who founded the agency had been a good mentor since his rookie days. He was given the opportunity to explore himself by turning those current feelings into a song, and as a result of being properly heard and supported in self-disclosure, a masterpiece was born. (I will omit the introduction of the song here.)

The 'Love Myself' message that BTS has been sending out since 2017 is not just a slogan; it is the process of them struggling, facing themselves each time, loving themselves, and acknowledging each other.

They don't just show a glittering world because they are idols; they expose their fights and struggles as they are. They are always true to themselves.

And all seven of them say in unison:

'Our dream is to keep doing BTS as these seven members until we are grandfathers.'

With an agency that is always absolutely on their side and reliable members who respect each other's existence, perhaps it was only in such a secure environment that they were able to love themselves.

I believe that such a relationship is the reason why they are supported by so many people across borders, as it has become a vision for people all over the world.

Finally, please watch this video, which I have watched so many times I have lost count. If you are feeling a little down, want to encourage yourself, or for some reason just want to cry, I want you to listen to this.

Just don't blame me if you fall down the rabbit hole, though... haha

The end