Jungkook of BTS spoke about feeling frustrated and constrained during a livestream on Weverse, which was later removed from the platform.
The singer began the 88-minute broadcast in the early hours of Thursday, appearing to drink with others while speaking candidly to fans. Clips of the video quickly circulated online after it was taken down, prompting debate within South Korea’s online community over his language and behaviour.
During the livestream, Jungkook addressed topics including preparations for BTS’s upcoming album, Arirang, his past smoking habit and his motivation as a K-pop artist. At several points, he suggested he felt limited in what he could openly discuss.
“I want to talk about smoking. I don’t smoke now. But why can’t I talk about it? I’m 30 now,” he said. “I quit after making a huge effort. I’d like to talk about that as well, but the moment I do, the company will make a big fuss,” he added.
“Tomorrow the members will probably [chastise me], and the company will say something too,” he said. “I’m someone who wants to be honest, and if I’ve done something wrong, I want to admit it. I can’t talk about it directly, though, because it’s a sensitive issue.”
Reflecting on his career, Jungkook said he performs “not because I’m free to do them, but because of the waiting [fans].” He continued, “I’ve always wanted to be honest with ARMY. Honestly, if it weren’t for the company, I would have said everything.”
BTS are scheduled to release its fifth full-length album, Arirang, on March 20, marking its first group release in three years and nine months. The band will begin a new world tour with a concert in Goyang on April 9.
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