Jin

Kim Seok-jin was raised in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, alongside his older brother Kim Seok-joong. Initially intending to become an actor, he earned a bachelor's degree in Film Studies from Konkuk University in February 2017 before continuing his education at Hanyang Cyber University.

In March 2022, Jin injured his left index finger and underwent surgery to repair a damaged tendon. The recovery required him to wear a cast and limit his participation in certain live routines, including performing seated during portions of the 64th Annual Grammy Awards and BTS concert engagements in Las Vegas.

Jin began his mandatory military enlistment on December 13, 2022, entering the 5th Infantry Division recruit training center in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province. After completing basic training, he served as an assistant training instructor within the division. He was formally discharged on June 12, 2024, making him the first member of BTS to finish his active-duty service.

Jin was street-cast by Big Hit Entertainment while traveling to university and initially auditioned as an actor before training as a vocalist. He officially debuted on June 13, 2013, as one of four vocalists in the seven-member boy group BTS, introduced on the single album 2 Cool 4 Skool.

Within the group's discography, Jin contributed multiple solo tracks that highlighted his vocal stability and emotional delivery. His co-produced solo "Awake" was featured on the 2016 album Wings, followed by the pop-rock ballad "Epiphany" on the 2018 compilation Love Yourself: Answer. In 2020, he released the power-pop solo "Moon" on Map of the Soul: 7, which reached the top of South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart.

Jin began releasing independent solo material on SoundCloud, beginning in June 2019 with the acoustic ballad "Tonight," a song inspired by his pets that he co-wrote with bandmate RM. He followed in December 2020 with "Abyss," an introspective track reflecting on personal burnout, and in December 2021 with the lighthearted trot-style track "Super Tuna," which gained widespread viral attention and inspired an international dance challenge.

In October 2022, Jin released his official debut solo single, "The Astronaut," co-written with the British rock band Coldplay. He joined Coldplay on stage in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to perform the song live during their Music of the Spheres World Tour. Following his military service, he released his debut solo mini-album, Happy, in November 2024, led by the singles "I'll Be There" and "Running Wild." In May 2025, he released his second mini-album, Echo, featuring the single "Don't Say You Love Me," and embarked on the RunSeokjin Ep. Tour across Asia, North America, and Europe.

Between 2016 and 2018, Jin frequently served as a guest and special host on major South Korean music broadcasts, including Music Bank, Inkigayo, and the KBS Song Festival. His television presence also expanded through reality and variety appearances, such as SBS's Law of the Jungle in Kota Manado, his dedicated web show The Drunken Truth, and the 2024 variety series Run Jin.

In addition to his entertainment career, Jin has pursued culinary and commercial ventures. In 2018, he opened the Japanese-style restaurant Otsu Seiromushi in Seoul in partnership with his older brother. In late 2024, he collaborated with culinary entrepreneur Baek Jong-won and traditional artisan Park Rok-dam to establish the agricultural liquor company Yesan Doga, launching the traditional Korean alcohol brand Igin.

Jin has supported numerous charitable initiatives, particularly in animal welfare and healthcare. In 2018, he celebrated his birthday by donating supplies and pet food to the Korean Animal Welfare Association and the Korea Animal Rights Advocates. Having quietly contributed monthly donations to UNICEF Korea starting in May 2018, he was inducted into the organization's Honors Club in May 2019 after his contributions surpassed 100 million won. In January 2025, he contributed another 100 million won to Korea University Medical Center to fund treatment for patients facing financial hardship in developing nations.

In October 2018, Jin and his BTS bandmates were awarded the fifth-class Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit by the President of South Korea for promoting Korean culture worldwide. In July 2021, he was designated a Special Presidential Envoy for Future Generations and Culture, and in July 2024, he represented South Korea as an Olympic torchbearer in Paris ahead of the Summer Olympic Games.