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The opening moments of Jung Kook: I Am Still, a new documentary that is in theaters today, feature a series of baby photographs of the eponymous artist and main vocalist of BTS, a K-pop group that needs no introduction. They show Jung Kook posing for a family portrait in a white suit and striped bow tie holding a stuffed toy; Jung Kook sitting cross-legged in a folding chair, smiling for the camera. In a span of seconds, you see Jung Kook grow up as the snapshots flash rapidly forward through time, from a baby to a teenage trainee, a freshly debuted K-pop star to a global pop superstar in his own right.
Jung Kook: I Am Still is the latest documentary released by HYBE, the massive South Korean entertainment company built on the success of BTS, and follows Jung Kook’s eight-month journey as a solo artist, recording his first solo album, Golden, and performing around the world before enlisting in the South Korean military to complete his mandatory service. It was a brief but impactful moment for the young star as he began to explore himself and his career beyond the boundaries of BTS.
The film unfolds as a series of snapshots and reflections, like an atmospheric video scrapbook assembled by the artist, reflecting his personality and aesthetic tastes. Fans can witness Jung Kook’s solo journey, from recording “Seven (feat. Latto)" and performing it at the GMA Summer Concert Series before a summer downpour to shooting the music video for “Standing Next to You” in Budapest, leading up to his triumphant live performance in Times Square.
It’s impressive to witness Jung Kook’s sheer dedication to his craft, which hasn’t wavered in the last decade: Jung Kook performs on the road as he battles a bad cold, throwing back a cup of cough syrup backstage, and tirelessly rerecords without a single word of complaint. He always appears to be practicing, singing to himself in the car between rehearsals and interviews, his face lit up by the glow of his phone.
It’s the quiet moments that stand out. Watching Jung Kook munch on a breakfast sandwich in his hotel room, wriggling his socks into place. Interviews with his collaborators like producer Pdogg and HYBE America executive creator Son Sungdeuk are spliced with Jung Kook’s own reflections as he muses about his desire to be acknowledged by the world not only as a member of BTS, which gives him so much pride and joy, but as a solo artist and individual.
I Am Still ends after Jung Kook’s hairstylist has shaved his head, just before the artist’s enlistment and the stylist breaking into tears once he’s done. Yet Jung Kook remains triumphant, smiling brightly, still looking ahead to the future, as though promising to his fans that his journey is only beginning.
Jung Kook: I Am Still is screening in theaters worldwide for a limited time. For more information: https://jungkook-iamstill.com/