An Essay On Why Jungkook Is A Treasure
Jungkook should not have felt the need to apologise to fans.
Jungkook didn’t need to apologise to fans because he’d done nothing wrong.
I am genuinely…so furious and upset over how he’s treated by fans, anti’s and the media. This ridiculous sweet boy who was so introverted and shy upon arriving at Big Hit that he’d cry when asked to sing or wait till everyone else had gone to bed to shower. This boy who grew from an awkward teenager into a handsome man before our eyes and in turn grew into his wonderful personality.
Jungkook spends hours of his free time composing his own songs for us that he will one day release. He spends hours making coveres of himself singing songs, he spends hours videoing his best friends and editing those videos to release them for free. He puts out his photography and let’s us in when his personality says he probably doesn’t like doing that.
Because Jungkook is not extroverted like Hoseok, he’s not outgoing like Taehyung, he’s not bubbly like Jimin. When he’s only with BTS, he comes to life because they’re safe to him. He knows he can be himself, even with cameras on him. But when he’s put into a situation where he has to interact with other people, particularly people he doesn’t know, you can see that introverted boy come back.
He stands behind everyone, he looks for Namjoon for comfort and reassurance. He practices English and has his moments of boldness in interviews but mostly sits back and simply admires Namjoon speaking. He hides behind the members to avoid being seen sometimes and gets shy when asked to speak. He goes unbelievably shy when complimented in public, trying to deflect it onto his members instead.
Jungkook ALWAYS makes sure that his members are happy. He actively looks out for them, remembers them, talks to them and does things to make them laugh. Even if it makes him look stupid in a situation in which he’s naturally not comfortable (interviews, award shows etc), he does it because if they’re laughing then he’s happy.
Jungkook is probably the least aware of his own level of fame and money given how little he seems to spend on himself. He buys things for comfort, not because they’re fashionable or expensive. He flits between so many different interests and sometimes, I think this is because he wasn’t allowed to grow and explore himself like everyone else does during those pivotal years. When others were discovering their true interests and figuring themselves out, Jungkook had to sit behind a mask and grow up in the spotlight of thousands and then millions. He’s only 22 after all! Which is why I think he seems to struggle keeping interest in anything except for music, the gym, filmography, photography and gaming.
And yet despite this, despite him being the sweetest and most endearing person, he gets unbelievable levels of hate? He gets into a small car accident (which wouldn’t even be a big deal here in the UK, like…you probably wouldn’t even call the police, just tell your insurer) yet everyone freaks out and it becomes news worthy in different countries. He hangs out with some friends and ends up in a dating scandal because people stalked him, all of which broke out when he was on the way to New Zealand?! And then he felt the need to apologise for it. Apologise for having a fucking LIFE?! He wasn’t doing anything wrong for god’s sake. He ends up in news articles when freaking anti’s trend a hashtag, not even for anything legitimate?!
He gets tattoos finally because he likes them and everyone freaks out over it. I genuinely think that he covers them on shows/TV to avoid Korean broadcasting rules but he covers them every other time because he knows that he’ll end up getting a lot of shit. Notice that Jungkook finally, FINALLY, began to use social media more last year? And then the whole scandal/s happened and he just…stopped. Again.
This just…really angers me. Jungkook is insanely talented, we all know this. BTS knows this, he knows it. But he’s not arrogant, he’s not cocky, he’s not an asshole about it. Maybe behind doors he’s entirely different, but I don’t really think someone who ALWAYS bows to fans and those older than him, who bows to a grandma in the middle of a concert, who goes into the crowd to personally meet someone in a wheelchair, who speaks so honestly and earnestly in his vlive’s and more, is truly an asshole.
I can’t attest to it, but Jungkook looks to have the same kind of personality as me to a degree. Extroverted, loud and funny when with people he feels completely comfortable and safe with but shy and awkward when around new people he doesn’t know. Which makes my heart break for him when he just gets such nastiness constantly, because I can’t imagine what it does to his confidence.
This is Jungkook, who looks at Namjoon like he holds the answer to life and the universe.
Jungkook, who finds happiness and comfort from being with Hoseok.
Jungkook, who teases and loves Yoongi unconditionally.
Jungkook, who acts like Seokjin’s real little brother who he raised for years.
Jungkook, who laughs and plays with Jimin and is always there to support him.
Jungkook, who encourages Taehyung and has such similar interests.
He doesn’t deserve to feel guilty for having a life outside of being a puppet for fans, he doesn’t deserve to have to continually apologise for just living and enjoying himself. Jungkook…you grew up before us and I finally feel that you’re embracing who YOU want to be instead of who you think WE want you to be.
All I want…is for Jungkook to simply laugh and smile and be happy without being constantly dragged for the smallest thing he does. It makes my heart hurt to think of him feeling guilty or ashamed because he can’t reach the lofty goals that have been set for him by people sometimes.
