Kim Seok-jin, known professionally as Jin, was born on December 4, 1992, in South Korea. He is a singer, songwriter, and member of the popular South Korean boy band BTS. Throughout his career, Jin has co-written and released three solo tracks with BTS: "Awake" in 2016, "Epiphany" in 2018, and "Moon" in 2020. Each of these songs has achieved chart success on South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart. In addition to his work with BTS, Jin released his first independent song, the digital track "Tonight," in 2019. He made his official debut as a solo artist in October 2022 with the release of the single "The Astronaut."
"Epiphany" debuted as a teaser for BTS' forthcoming compilation album, Love Yourself: Answer, hitting the airwaves on August 9, 2018. Billboard characterized it as a "progressive pop-rock tune" with lyrics centered around self-acceptance and self-love. The full rendition of the song later appeared on Answer, achieving a peak position of number 30 on the Gaon Digital Chart and securing the fourth spot on the US World Digital Song Sales chart. In 2020, "Moon" made its debut as part of BTS' fourth Korean studio album, Map of the Soul: 7. According to Variety writer Jae-Ha Kim, the track exudes power pop vibes and is dedicated to the band's devoted fan base. "Moon" soared to the top of the Gaon Digital Chart and claimed the second spot on the World Digital Song Sales chart.
Beyond his musical endeavors, Jin has appeared as a host on various South Korean music programs from 2016 to 2018. In recognition of his contributions to Korean culture, Jin, along with his bandmates, was awarded the fifth-class Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit by the President of South Korea in 2018. Jin's career path took an unexpected turn when he initially aspired to be a journalist but found inspiration in acting after watching Kim Nam-gil in Queen Seondeok. While still in junior high school, he caught the eye of South Korean K-pop agency SM Entertainment, who scouted him off the street. However, Jin declined the offer at the time.
Despite his initial rejection of the K-pop opportunity, Jin maintained his passion for acting. He pursued his academic studies at Konkuk University, where he earned a degree in Film Studies on February 22, 2017. Later on, Jin decided to delve deeper into academia and enrolled in graduate school at Hanyang Cyber University, where he explored studies in areas other than music, reaffirming his commitment to his artistic journey.
In December 2018, Jin marked his birthday by showing his compassionate side, donating food, blankets, and dishes to the Korean Animal Welfare Association. Additionally, he contributed 321 kilograms of food to the Korea Animal Rights Advocates (KARA), further demonstrating his commitment to supporting animal welfare causes. Since May 2018, Jin has been quietly supporting UNICEF Korea as a monthly donor, initially choosing to keep his donations private. However, his generosity was recognized when he was inducted into the UNICEF Honors Club in May 2019, having donated over ₩100 million (approximately US$84,000).
In March 2022, Jin faced a setback when he injured his left hand, leading him to undergo corrective surgery. As a result, he had to limit his participation in BTS' Permission to Dance on Stage concerts in Las Vegas, withdrawing from certain group events, and performing while seated for most of the band's appearance at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards. Despite this challenge, Jin's resilience and dedication to his craft remained unwavering.
On October 17, 2022, Big Hit Entertainment announced that Jin, following the release of his solo single "The Astronaut" and its subsequent promotional activities by the end of the month, would commence the enlistment process for his mandatory military service. This decision followed Jin's previous automatic postponement, granted in 2021 until the end of 2022, in accordance with revisions to the Military Service Act made in December 2020.
On November 4, 2022, Jin submitted paperwork to the Military Manpower Administration (MMA), requesting the termination of his postponement to proceed with his conscription. He officially began his military service as an active duty soldier on December 13 at the Yeoncheon army base in the North Gyeonggi Province.
Upon completing his basic training with the 5th Infantry Division in January 2023, Jin was appointed as an assistant training instructor within the same division.
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