Many of those castigating him aren’t doing it because they think what he’s doing is fundamentally wrong. They’re criticizing him because this is their chance to:
- Prove that their favorites — who don’t write their own songs — are on the same level as Jungkook, and
- Get back at ARMY, who never stops talking about BTS’s creative control and the songwriting skills of each member.
And there lies the problem.
JUNGKOOK HAS 22 WRITING CREDITS IN KOMCA
All but two list him as co-composer, co-lyricist, and co-producer. He started writing at fifteen. As soon as he debuted, he was already creating songs and is even credited as a co-producer of No More Dream.
Had Jungkook wanted to write his entire album himself, he could have.
HE WANTS GLOBAL SUCCESS ACROSS ALL GENRES
He’s clear about his goal and unapologetic about it. He said he wanted to be an artist who can do both K-pop and Western pop. Although he didn’t say it directly, I interpreted that to mean he wants to do it successfully. He wants to be that one artist who can truly bridge both worlds.
And that’s what threatens people.
Because Jungkook will succeed. This album is going to break records. He’ll probably end up breaking some of BTS’s own records. That’s what terrifies fans of artists who still can’t even reach BTS’s 2018 level. They already had trouble catching up to BTS as a group — now another BTS soloist is about to raise the bar even higher.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. BTS is supposed to be in the military right now so the path would be clear for everyone else’s favorites.
DOES THIS PROVE JUNGKOOK CAN’T SUCCEED WITH SONGS HE HIMSELF WROTE?
He already has.
My Time peaked at #84 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Stay reached #22 with 179 million streams.
Film Out charted at #81 — and that was for a Japanese release.
None of those songs were promoted. Film Out wasn’t even intended for the U.S. market, yet it still charted.
He achieved all that with songs written by him — without marketing pushes or major campaigns.
“HE’S JUST SEEKING WESTERN VALIDATION.”
I’m not even sure what that means anymore.
Do you mean he wants American fans? He already has them. He doesn’t need to “seek” them.
Do you mean Western awards? He and BTS have been accused of chasing those since their very first U.S. appearance. Every time they set a new goal, the “Western validation” accusation comes back. It’s nothing new.
What Jungkook wants is global commercial success. He wants to explore Western pop, then Latin pop, and eventually all genres. For haters, global success somehow translates to Western validation.
They’re not mad because Jungkook did something wrong — they’re mad because he did something their favorites couldn’t.
“HE DIDN’T EVEN WANT TO RELEASE AN ALBUM.”
When he said he was enjoying his break and hadn’t planned to release an album, it made perfect sense. Before BTS’s hiatus, he mentioned that he preferred releasing singles over a full mixtape.
I don’t think a solo album was part of his immediate plan. He was simply given a song he really liked — and that set off a domino effect.
He’s twenty-six, has more money than he can spend, and probably wanted to rest, travel, and live like a normal guy before the group’s comeback. Then this one song landed on his lap, and it sparked something.
DO I LIKE IT?
I prefer his own writing, to be honest. Some of the songwriters on the album are great, but in my opinion, Jungkook is just as good — if not better — than most of them.
David Stewart is talented. DJ Snake is talented. But I’d take Jungkook’s own writing any given Sunday.
That said, this is his choice. These are songs he picked. As long as he’s choosing what he wants to sing and not being pushed into anything, I’m fine with it.
This isn’t the first time BTS has sung songs written by others. It’s not the first time they’ve collaborated with artists I personally don’t care for. But I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again — I can’t expect my favorite artists to create only what I want.
They’re individuals with their own creative instincts.
I can’t expect them to always align with my preferences.
So I’ll listen to this album and decide purely based on my own taste — which songs I like and which I don’t. I’ll play what I enjoy and skip what I don’t. That’s how music should be experienced anyway.
HOW ABOUT YOU SUPPORT YOUR OWN ARTIST
Your favorite will succeed if you support them.
Because trying to drag down another artist will never make yours rise higher. Hating someone who’s working hard doesn’t stop their success — it only makes it louder.
The best revenge against envy is achievement. The best response to hate is success.
So instead of obsessing over Jungkook’s every move, focus that same energy into supporting your own favorites — buy their music, stream their songs, talk about their art.
Let your love for them turn into the kind of success that toxic people can only envy.
Because in the end, that’s the only answer that matters — not the noise, but the numbers, the music, and the milestones that prove all the hate was useless.
