Cover Story: Jimin on being Dior Men's global ambassador, his true self, future and more

Congratulations on becoming Dior’s new ambassador! You attended fashion week earlier this year. Can you tell us how you feel about experiencing fashion week for the first time?

It’s been a long time! I feel very grateful and blessed to have become an ambassador for a prestigious global brand like Dior. I hope I can take this opportunity to learn more about fashion and contribute something to Dior. I’m a little worried about fashion week as this is my first time and I think I’ll be very nervous.

Do you remember your parents’ first reaction when you told them you became the global ambassador for Dior? Or when you were invited to the White House?

My parents always look very happy and tell me they’re proud of me. Those were also opportunities for me to realise how proud I am to be a part of BTS.

How are you feeling these days with everything that’s been going on? Are you mostly doing okay? Do you have any worries, or do you feel lighthearted despite being busy?

There hasn’t been a drastic change in how I feel, and I don’t feel heavyhearted. But since I’m in a period when I’m preparing many new things that are soon to be revealed, I do think a lot about my direction and plans for the future. It’s a time that’s filled with more thinking than doing. (laughs)

What are some topics that really get you going – ones that make you talk louder, in a different tone of voice?

I become very absorbed in the conversation when I’m talking about the BTS members or people that I love and care about. Doesn’t everyone? They are the ones I know the most about and therefore enjoy talking about the most.

You and Ha Sung Woon jointly published the song “With you,” from the TV show “Our Blues,” in the first half of 2022. Proof, anthology album, which closed a chapter on BTS, was also available. We are curious to know how you spent your downtime following the release. Did you get a chance to organise your thoughts or discover something that allowed you to properly comprehend and consider yourself?

I think that was the first time you could actually stop and take in your surroundings. I tried to be mindful of what I was feeling in the moment. I tried to record those feelings in as much detail as possible because I was afraid they might disappear if I didn’t. For some reason, I felt like those feelings had to be documented.

To be honest, both BTS and I have experienced a lot of changes in recent years. And since I was able to stay strong throughout those changes, I felt that if I wrote down the thoughts and feelings I had during that time, I would be better equipped to handle similar situations in the future. So, I took some time to look back on them, especially on the kinds of thoughts that made me feel happy or overwhelmed in the past.

Where do you find happiness? I mean, you can name anything. But I know ARMY would be the first thing you will think of.

Since ARMY is a given, let’s leave that out. (laughs) I know talking about my fans sounds very typical, but I really can’t leave them out. (laughs)

For many years, I’ve shared all kinds of happy moments and sad moments with my fans. And when it comes to smaller things, spending time with my friends is my only hobby and pastime.

Can you tell me something about your temperament that you enjoy?

I guess my sense of curiosity? I think I’ve always been very curious since I was young. I always had to look up things that I didn’t understand or wanted to know more about.

But then I wasn’t very faithful about following things up. (laughs) And I was always curious about a lot of useless things.

When you’re performing at a concert, you’re surrounded by the roars of everyone in the audience like stars in the galaxy.

There are also the bright lights, the performance, the teamwork, the catharsis... After being on stage, when you’re back in the quiet of your home, what kind of thoughts do you have before you fall asleep? What kind of state are you in? I would like to hear your description of that combination of euphoria and feeling of emptiness.

From the moment the curtains fall at the end of a concert to the moment I return to the hotel and fall asleep, that roar keeps pulsing in my ears. There are moments when that thrill returns after a concert has ended, but it’s not always euphoria or a feeling of emptiness; it’s a mixture of all kinds of emotions.

I’ll be visited by this enormous euphoria that I can’t even describe, but then I’ll feel this emptiness when I’m lying alone in bed. To be honest, right now I’m only left with touching memories, and I miss being on stage. I really want to perform again, and I especially can’t wait to do a concert with the other members.

Did you ever cry because of how difficult things felt, either when you were a trainee or after you debuted? Is there anything you’d like to say to the past Jimin in those years?

There were so many times when I screamed and cried because I was so tired and exhausted and felt like I didn’t know what to do.

I don’t really have anything to say to the past Jimin, because I’m here after having gone through all those years. (laughs)

Are there any memorable kind words that someone said to you? Sometimes, people can say something that wasn’t even intended to make you feel better but somehow touches you.

There are lots of things that are memorable to me. I’ve heard so many beautiful words from my fans, probably more than most people get to hear in their entire lifetimes, and I’ll never be able to repay their kindness.

And I’m still hearing them now. There’s also my manager, who gave me a hug and told me he was sorry he didn’t understand everything I was going through; the staff who cried with me; friends who just came to be there for me at my house for several days; and my family.

Another thing that gives me the most strength and at the same time makes me feel very apologetic is when the other members tell me that everything’s okay without saying anything else.

What do you think you need the most right now?

Time. I need time to look back on my twenties, accept the fact that I’ll soon be in my thirties, and think about the direction I want my life to take. I also wish I had more time to prepare my album, have fun with my friends, etc.

I’d like to hear about the future you’re anticipating and drawing for yourself – in all kinds of aspects including music, as a person, etc.

You can choose how far in the future you want to think. I want to be someone who’s relaxed. When it comes to work (like creating music or performing on stage), that means I’ll have to be good at it. When it comes to my state of mind, I’ll have to become stronger and create stronger surroundings. I want to become someone who can protect those things.

All clothing: DIOR MEN SPRING/SUMMER 2023 COLLECTION

Our March 2023 "New Masculine" issue featuring Jimin of BTS is now available in select major bookstores and newsstands.

All images and interview courtesy of Dior.