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In the eleven years since its debut album in 2013, South Korean boyband BTS has grown on a global scale: releasing nine studio albums, breaking world records and paving the way for other international artists in the mainstream English-language market. Debuting at just 15, Jeon Jung-kook, otherwise known as Jung Kook, grew up with the band. In 2022, as the members began their required military service, they each released solo albums and songs as parting gifts. The film “Jung Kook: I Am Still” captures the eight-month journey of the band’s youngest member as he discovers his identity as a solo artist separate from the group that made him famous.
“I Am Still” chronicles Jeon Jung-kook’s work on his debut solo album “Golden.” The 11-song album, entirely in English, introduces a new version of the star, experimenting with different genres, styles and production. The film documents the recording, filming and performance of its biggest three hits: “Seven,” “3D” and “Standing Next to You.”
The documentary’s first arc, full of bright colors, upbeat music and sunny views, began with Jung Kook flying to Los Angeles to record “Seven”. Having had few opportunities to develop his artistic identity within BTS, we saw Jung Kook doubting his appeal as a solo artist and feeling pressured to prove himself. Ready to rebrand, he believed “Seven” (featuring American rapper Latto) would be his new debut. Recording the song was surprisingly quick: it took just one and a half hours to record the fun, catchy pop song. On-camera interviews captured producers shocked by his work ethic and their confidence that “Seven” would top the Billboard Top 100 chart — they were not wrong. Reflecting on the song’s release, Jung Kook told the cameras, “In my life, being part of a team was important of course, but I think this moment is just as important to me.” “Seven,” a bright and colorful start to his solo journey, left the audience hopeful and excited about what comes next.
Despite the objective success of “Seven,” which became the fastest song to reach one billion streams in Spotify history, Jung Kook measures his success with humility atypical of pop stars: by the reactions of his fan base. Close-up camera shots revealed the word ARMY — the name of the BTS fanbase — tattooed on his hand and early BTS songs played softly as Jung Kook reflected on sweet memories with his fans, revealing the depth of his connection with his ARMY.
Jung Kook’s rebranding continued with his next single, “3D.” Groovy background music and a vibrant color palette introduced us to the upbeat hip-hop song featuring popular American rapper Jack Harlow. We watched as his second single worked its way into the mainstream hip-hop scene, with edgy lyrics and classic rap rhythms that marked an abrupt departure from the pop feel of “Seven.”
A new, suave side of Jung Kook emerged in his music video for “3D,” which has a retro vibe. The music video’s dynamic camera angles, striking backdrops and entertaining dance sequences energized and hyped up the audience. Jung Kook’s confident attitude and stylish moves led producer David Stewart to describe Jung Kook as an ace of sorts, a rarity of an artist who has mastered it all — singing, rapping and dancing.
When recording his next single, “Standing Next To You,” Jung Kook seemed to struggle to hit certain notes and pronounce words. Eventually, the song came together to become a marriage of worlds, creating something unique: a smooth blend of pop, R&B, and soft rock some likened to Michael Jackson.
Smooth, jazzy bass and deep colors marked the exciting release of “Golden” — which topped the charts for weeks — a honeymoon period before Jung Kook’s mandatory enlistment in the South Korean military approached. Wanting to perform one last time, Jung Kook surprised fans with an electrifying nighttime performance at the heart of Times Square. Amid a downpour, his fans still showed up with the energy Jung Kook needed.
After brief cameos from other BTS members that drew cheers and laughs from the audience, the film concluded with a bittersweet visual of Jung Kook reflecting on his journey as his head is shaved for the military — the sound of which caused audible gasps throughout the theater, and may or may not have brought tears to my eyes.
“I Am Still” left a profound sense that Jung Kook follows his own compass to navigate his debut. We were in the studio with him through the ups and downs of recording, celebrating alongside him as he broke records and cheering alongside his fans at his performances. We saw his humanity reflected in moments of self-doubt and humility even in the face of overwhelming success. We shared the disappointment when the reality of his mandatory military service hit.
But for a moment, we were treated to the fantastic music, rhythms and dance moves that defined him as one member of a hit boy band and again as a solo star in his own right. While it felt like he was “standing in front of the whole world” at the start, it is clear that Jung Kook’s “Golden,” a mixing pot of concepts and styles of music, allowed a new version of him to emerge while still representing the person he has always been: a hard-working, humble jack of all trades.