BTS member V revealed what made him dream of becoming a singer as a child.
V said in an interview video released on the YouTube channel "Fairy Jae-hyung" on the 29th, "When I was in elementary school, people told me to get a 'four-letter job,' but I alone said I would become a singer."
V, who said he attended elementary and middle school in Geochang, South Gyeongsang, said, "At the time, my grandmother pointed to a banner with a photo of Gang Dong-won and told me, 'Only people like that become singers or actors.'" He added, "These days, they say my face is on the banners in Geochang. Kids in the future will grow up looking at my face now."
He went on, "Still, I loved music and liked being on stage. On holidays I would do the 'dog-leg dance' and get pocket money, and I wasn't shy about it like a veteran," adding, "That was my happiness. I think the reason I wanted to be on stage was because people said 'you're pretty' and clapped for me."
V said that around the time he entered middle school, he declared to his father, "I want to put my dream into action now." He said his father advised him, "Then learn an instrument. I heard your chances will look better if you go to an arts high school." V explained, "When I checked the competition rates, drums were 20 to 1, piano was 100 to 1, but saxophone was 3 to 1, so I chose saxophone. I studied it for four years."
V said, "I heard my father's dream was also to be an entertainer, a TV talent," adding, "So he thought, 'Then I can just work at a broadcast station,' and he even worked at Daegu MBC," but with a laugh he said, "My dad is the case that didn't work out, and I'm the case that did."
V expressed gratitude for the support and encouragement he received from his father, who shared the same dream, saying, "He kept moving together with me."
After failing to get into an arts high school, V attended a dance academy. While he was there, he went to watch a private Big Hit audition held in Seoul, and at an employee's suggestion, he auditioned, passed, and began life as a trainee.
At the time, he lived in a dorm with RM, J-Hope, Suga and Jungkook. He also revealed behind-the-scenes details about the debut lineup announcement. When Jung Jae-hyung asked, "You actually made it early, but weren't you introduced last in the debut lineup?" V answered, "I heard they delayed making me public in case another company might poach me."
He also talked about the group's little-known days. V recalled, "Fewer than 30 people came to our first fan meeting. Still, I was happy because it was more than the number of our members," adding, "I was moved that people came all this way to see us." V emphasized, "It's largely thanks to the fans' passion and energy that we became known. ARMY spread the word more and helped promote us."
BTS on the 20th released its fifth album, "Arirang," for the first time in 3 years and 9 months. At 8 p.m. on the 21st, the next day, the group held the "BTS Comeback Live: Arirang" performance at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul to mark its return.
The new album "Arirang" expresses universal emotions such as the team's identity, longing and deep love. It contains 14 tracks in total, including the title track "Swim" (SWIM). "Swim" is an upbeat alternative pop song in which BTS captured the attitude of keeping on swimming forward without stopping amid life's waves.