BTS star Jung Kook doesn’t see himself as a pop star “yet”.
The 28-year-old K-pop idol has had massive success as a member of the record-breaking South Korean boy band, and as a solo artist, but he admits he personally doesn’t feel like he’s reached the level of stardom others attribute to him.
In a YouTube interview for Rolling Stone, he said: “I’m grateful that people see me that way, but I don’t feel it yet.
“I want to keep improving so that one day I can truly feel like, ‘I’m a star.’”
Jung Kook – whose solo hits include Seven, 3D and Standing Next to You – also spoke about learning English to feel more comfortable.
He said: “When I can naturally make small talk in English, that would be a turning point.
“In the end, consistency is what matters. I’m working so that native speakers won’t feel awkward listening to me.”
Jung Kook also explained that he has a laid-back approach.
He said: “I don’t tend to overthink things.
“Rather than feeling stressed during the process, I enjoyed it. I did what I wanted to do, and the process was fun.”
Elsewhere, Jung Kook reflected on their strength as a unit.
He said of his bandmates: “Everyone has their own pace and style, but what makes us a team is creating music together and being on stage together.”
BTS’ latest projects include their comeback album ARIRANG, and the newly announced THE CITY LAS VEGAS, which will run in Las Vegas from May 20 to May 31, followed by THE CITY BUSAN, in Busan, South Korea from June 5 to June 21.
A press release explained: “The project will showcase a range of immersive experiences that combine the music and story of BTS’ fifth studio album ARIRANG with each city’s iconic landmarks. Through their larger-than-life initiative, BTS seeks to turn the cities into vibrant cultural stages.”
BTS also launched the short documentary series KEEP SWIMMING with BTS, with new episodes available on YouTube.