The Meaning of Jungkook: The Triumph of BTS and the Making of a Pop Superstar

Vogue contributor Kim debuts with a serviceable if somewhat clumsy ode to K-pop superstar Jeon Jungkook. At age 13, Jungkook entered the K-pop “idol system”—a rigorous and sometimes toxic talent training program—and became the youngest member of the band BTS, whose “raw visuals and insightful lyrics” and “authentic” appearance helped K-pop gain traction with Western audiences. Making his solo debut with Golden in 2023, he became the first K-pop soloist with three hit singles in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. Exploring the factors behind her subject’s success, Kim devotes considerable attention to his “innate musicality” and star power while also crediting the close relationship he built with fans through frequent livestreams (which became increasingly popular during the Covid-19 pandemic). The background provided on the K-pop system is lucid and thorough but Kim’s analyses of the artist himself too often lapse into a worshipful tone (“There is an unquantifiable magic at work, an ephemeral charm that belongs to Jungkook alone”). Still, the most committed K-pop fans will find enough here to appreciate. (June)