I went to see Jung Kook at the cinema and, though it was sadly not the real man in person, I learnt a lot in ways I had not expected. And, of course, I was reminded that Jungkook is awesome – but that’s a given, isn’t it?

I’ve been a fan of BTS since 2014 – though admittedly fell off towards the Butter era – and my bias was always Jung Kook during the early days. When I heard about his BTS movie coming out in cinemas here in the UK, I cancelled any (and all) plans I had, booked myself a ticket and planned my way to the cinema for BTS’ adorable maknae. 

All Grown Up

I find it hard to believe how many years it has been with BTS – seeing Jung Kook on the big screen talking about his growth over the years, and remembering the Jungkook we met at debut compared to now feels unreal. It is genuinely mind-boggling to think about, and I wonder if Jungkook feels the same, considering he chose to add ‘still’ into the title of the movie reflecting his journey.

In the movie Jungkook explained this decision as meaning ‘still growing’ and progressing on his journey, but I also personally think of it as him being ‘still’ the Jungkook we met at debut. He’s still charismatic, dedicated and determined, and as passionate as ever, but he has grown in that period in age, as a musician, and as a person. He is still BTS’ and ARMY’s baby, he still makes everyone proud – prouder than you can imagine – but he does it in a way that we couldn’t have predicted back in 2013.

Solo King Era

Something I’ve grown to love about K-pop is how artists are able to do solo albums, and Golden is up there as one of my favourites. “Seven” is catchy as heck, but “3D” holds a special place in my heart, and seeing the making of it as well as Jungkook pushing through sore throats and strained vocal chords only deepens my appreciation for the song and the artist.

I love that we see Jungkook grow throughout the showcasing of his solo era, as well as to hear how he and those around him felt about it. The staff comment on how dedicated he is and how he will repeat recordings as many times as it takes to get it right, and we see this across the film. It provides us an insight into how Jungkook works, and I love that we see this side to him as it’s not a side I imagine we would see any other way.

 Fundamentally we see beneath the ‘idol’ and that’s something I'm really glad K-pop is doing now.

In Cinemas

The ending point for I Am Still (2024) is Jungkook’s preparation for enrolment in his military service, with the staff cutting his hair to the mandated length and tears being shed. As an audience member I'd like to point out that it’s usually hard to make me cry, but there may have been some damp eyelashes during this section. This movie is both inspiring and motivating, heartfelt and endearing; it shows sides we would never normally see, and it also acts as encouragement for those struggling.

I haven’t actively followed BTS in recent years, but this movie certainly threw me back into the fan circuit and I went home to blast “3D” from my speakers for the rest of the evening. Whether like me you are somewhat of a retired ARMY, or on countdown till 2025, I really recommend seeing this film. Or, simply if you want a sentimental moment to take away such as what I took from this movie – we are all ‘still’ growing, ‘still’ learning, ‘still’ making memories. We aren’t done just yet. 

Edited by Isabel Miller.