BTS is currently the best-known K-pop group around the world. The group has been incredibly successful both in Korea and in other countries. In 2017, BTS crossed over into the global music market and led the Korean Wave into the United States and breaking numerous sales records. They became the first Korean group to receive a certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for their single “Mic Drop,” as well as the first Korean act to top the US Billboard 200 with their studio album Love Yourself: Tear (2018). BTS became one of the few groups since the Beatles to earn four US number-one albums in less than two years
As such a popular group, people are clamoring to know everything about the members of BTS. This list reveals the members’ ages from youngest to oldest. Currently, the members of BTS range in age from early-20s to late-20s. Jin will be the first member to enter his 30s later this year.
7. Jin (December 4, 1992 – Present)
Current Age (as of January 2022): 29 years, 1 month, 7 days
Birth Name: Kim Seok-jin
Birthplace: Gyeonggi, South Korea
Current Position: Vocalist and Visual
photo source: K-Pop Wiki
At the age of 29, Jin is the oldest member of BTS and he was 20 years old when the group made its debut in 2013. Unlike all of the other members of BTS, Jin does not have a music and/or dance background. Jin pursued acting and he attended Konkuk University. He graduated in 2017 with a degree in art and acting.
While Jin was in his early university days, he was scouted by Big Hit Entertainment while walking down the street. He actually auditioned for the agency as an actor before they decided to make him an K-pop idol trainee. It turned out that Jin has a lot of musical talent. He is a tenor and can play the guitar. Jin has a had a few solo tracks and in late 2021, it was revealed that Jin would sing the main OST theme song for the upcoming tvN drama Jirisan.
Did You Know?
In 2018, Jin opened a Japanese-style restaurant in Seoul called Ossu Seiromushi, with his older brother.
6. SUGA (March 9, 1993 – Present)
Current Age (as of January 2022): 28 years, 10 months, 2 days
Birth Name: Min Yoon-gi
Birthplace: Daegu, South Korea
Current Position: Lead Rapper
photo source: K-Pop Wiki
SUGA is the second-oldest member of BTS at 28 years old. He was 20 years old when the group debuted in 2013. As a kid, SUGA decided that he wanted to be a rapper when he grew up after hearing Epik High, a South Korean alternative hip hop group that has been around since 2001. SUGA began writing his own lyrics and before he joined BTS, he was an underground rapper known as Gloss.
Originally, SUGA joined Big Hit Entertainment as a music producer. However, the agency decided to train him alongside j-hope and RM. He became the second member of BTS after RM. Over the years, SUGA has released several solo tracks outside of BTS. SUGA writes, composes, arranges, mixes, and masters his own material.
Did You Know?
The Korea Music Copyright Association attributes over 100 songs to SUGA as a songwriter and producer.
5. j-hope (February 18, 1994 – Present)
Current Age (as of January 2022): 27 years, 10 months, 24 days
Birth Name: Jung Ho-seok
Birthplace: Gyeonggi, South Korea
Current Position: Main Dancer, Sub Rapper, and Sub Vocalist
photo source: K-Pop Wiki
j-hope is a few months older than RM, who is also currently 27 years old. When BTS debuted in 2013, j-hope was 19 years old. j-hope grew up as a dancer and 4th grade to his 1st year in high school, he was part of the underground dance team Neuron and took dance classes at Gwangju Music Academy. His dancing skills earned him a reputation before he ever became a trainee.
j-hope was the third member to join BTS after RM and Suga. In 2018, j-hope relased his first solo mixtape, Hope World. Living up to his name and his reputation as “the hope of BTS,” j-hope is known for his upbeat personality and energetic performances.
Did You Know?
As a trainee, j-hope was featured as a rapper in Jo Kwon’s song “Animal,” which was released in 2012.
4. RM (September 12, 1994 – Present)
Current Age (as of January 2022): 27 years, 3 months, 30 days
Birth Name: Kim Nam-joon
Birthplace: Goyang, South Korea
Current Position: Leader and Main Rapper
photo source: K-Pop Wiki
RM, formerly Rap Monster, is one of two members of BTS who was born in 1994. Along with J-Hope, RM is currently 27. RM was 18 years old when BTS debuted in 2013. Unlike some of his fellow band mates, RM wasn’t interested in becoming an entertainer as a young child. Instead, RM was into writing and received some attention for his poetry. However, when he was 11, RM became interested in music, in particular, hip-hop and rap. RM is now BTS’ main rapper.
RM had first tried to audition for an entertainment agency in 2009, but failed his first audition. At his next audition, he met the rapper Sleepy, who mentioned RM to Big Hit Entertainment producer Pdogg. Sleepy encouraged RM to audition for Big Hit CEO Bang Si-hyuk, who was so impressed by RM that he offered him a contract on the spot. The interaction caused Bang and Pdogg to start production of a hip hop group, which eventually became BTS.
Did You Know?
In school, RM scored in the top 1% of the nation in the university entrance examinations for language, math, foreign language and social studies and had an IQ of 148.
3. Jimin (October 13, 1995 – Present)
Current Age (as of January 2022): 26 years, 2 months, 29 days
Birth Name: Park Ji-min
Birthplace: Busan, South Korea
Current Position: Main Dancer and Lead Vocalist
photo source: K-Pop Wiki
Jimin is just a few months older than V. Both of them are currently 26 and they were 17 when BTS debuted. Like most of the other members of BTS, Jimin has been performing since he was a kid. During middle school, Jimin attended Just Dance Academy. He went on to study contemporary dance at Busan High School of Arts and was a top student in the modern dance department. One of his teachers suggested him to audition with an entertainment company and Jimin ended up becoming a Big Hit Entertainment trainee.
Jimin is one of the most popular members of BTS. In 2018 and 2019, he ranked No. 1 as the most popular idol in an annual survey conducted by Gallup Korea. He is the only idol to top the list two years in a row. As of 2021, Jimin has become the first idol to top the brand reputation ranking for individual boy group idols for 34 consecutive months.
Did You Know?
In May 2019, Jimin became the first BTS member to have a solo music video achieve 100 million views on YouTube with “Serendipity.”
2. V (December 30, 1995 – Present)
Current Age (as of January 2022): 26 years, 12 days
Birth Name: Kim Tae-hyung
Birthplace: Daegu, South Korea
Current Position: Lead Dancer, Vocalist, and Visual
photo source: K-Pop Wiki
V, who is one of BTS’ lead dancers, vocalists, and visuals, turned 26 at the end of 2021. He was 17 years old when BTS made its debut in 2013. V grew up wanting to be a professional singer and as a kid he took saxophone lessons as a way to achieve his future goals. In middle school, V auditioned to become a trainee for Big Hit Entertainment and was accepted to the program.
Before BTS debuted, fans were not aware of V’s existence. The agency kept him a secret and eventually revealed that he was the group’s seventh member. Outside of music, V has appeared in the historical drama Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth. In 2019, V released his first solo non-BTS track.
Did You Know?
V is credited with coming up with the phrase “I purple you” during BTS’ fanmeeting in November 2016. Since then, purple has become an important symbol for BTS and its fans.
1. Jungkook (September 1, 1997 – Present)
Current Age (as of January 2022): 24 years, 4 months, 10 days
Birth Name: Jeon Jeong-guk
Birthplace: Busan, South Korea
Current Position: Maknae, Main Vocalist, Lead Dancer, Sub Rapper, and Center
photo source: K-Pop Wiki
At the age of 24 years, 4 months, and 10 days, Jungkook is currently the youngest member of BTS. This makes Jungkook the group’s maknae or baby member. When BTS debuted in 2013, Jungkook was only 15 years old. A few years earlier, in 2011, Jungkook auditioned for the South Korean talent show Superstar K. Although Jungkook didn’t make it on to the show, he caught the eye of several entertainment agencies. Jungkook chose to train under Big Hit Entertainment (now Big Hit Music) after he saw RM, who is now his fellow BTS member, perform.
Over the years, Jungkook has had three solo songs. He has also been credited as a main producer on some of BTS’ songs. Jungkook has become one of the most popular K-pop idols of all time. In a 2019 survey conducted by Gallup Korea, Jungkook ranked as the third most-loved celebrity of the year in South Korea. Jungkook is so popular that his nickname is “Sold Out King” because items he’s seen using usually sell out.
Did You Know?
Jungkook has continued his education while being a part of BTS. He graduated from the School of Performing Arts Seoul in 2017 and he currently attends Global Cyber University, majoring in Broadcasting and Entertainment.
