BTS continues to prove why they are a global supergroup, showcasing not just their music but their distinct personalities and group dynamic. Each album and performance reflect their growth and artistry driven by their passion.
The group recently gave fans a more candid look at their personalities during their appearance on Hot Ones, the popular YouTube series by First We Feast. Hosted by Sean Evans, the show challenges celebrities to answer questions while eating chicken wings coated in increasingly spicy sauces.
During the interview, the members talked about the making of their album while also showing their natural humor and chemistry as individuals. RM led most of the conversation in English, while the rest of the group shared their thoughts in Korean, giving a more relaxed and authentic feel to the exchange.
One particularly amusing moment came when Sean posed a surprising question about “Tteokbokki by JK,” prompting Jung Kook to explain how to make the dish, catching him off guard and adding a lighthearted, personal touch to the conversation. “So for me, it comes down to how well you boil the rice cakes. That's important. The simplest way is to boil the rice cakes with the sauce ingredients, as long as you boil the rice cake and sauce well, it’ll taste good. Add a lot of green onions. And it’ll taste good.” Jung Kook shared.
Jin was also asked about one of his most memorable experiences as a fisherman, including the catch he considers his favorite. The unexpected question visibly surprised him, as he shared that it was something he had never been asked before.
“When I first started fishing. I went out to sea. I caught a fish right away, after catching it, returned to land to eat it as a Korean-style sashimi. Also, we were having drinks with the people around us. I'm tasting this sashimi, and it's different from what I've experienced before. I thought ‘Ah, so this is what fishing is all about.’ It's a memory I enjoy,” Jin happily expressed.
Meanwhile, Suga reflected on his early days in the underground rap scene in Daegu, where he performed under the name “Gloss.” He spoke briefly about that chapter of his life, giving insight into his beginnings and the influences that helped shape his artistry.
“I feel a bit shy calling myself an underground rapper. You know, when I was young doing music in Daegu, I would look ahead to performing in Seoul. Daegu hardly had any venues. There was no real way to make money. So I realized, if I want to do music, then I need to head to Seoul,” he recalled.
Midway through the interview, Jung Kook and the others teased RM, jokingly asking if he was crying as they wiped his face with a napkin. Noticing the sweat, Jung Kook said that maybe his body was “crying,” .
At one point, Sean asked if they could recommend a traditional Korean game, leading the group to introduce “369.” The game involves counting numbers aloud, but replacing any number with a 3, 6, or 9 with a clap. Jimin added a twist by suggesting a penalty: “Loser doesn't drink milk for the remainder of the show.” Sean ended up losing at the 16th count and had to accept the consequence.
The members’ reactions intensified as each level got hotter. Jimin noted that they were beginning to feel the full impact of the heat, while Suga commented that he could sense it building. Jin reacted the most, raising his voice and making exaggerated expressions in an attempt to handle the burn.
While Sean was asking about fan-created language inspired by the group, Jin’s reactions briefly interrupted the segment as he stood up, sat back down, and tried to manage the heat. The rest of the members continued explaining terms like “Namjooning,” which refers to living intentionally and appreciating small moments, “got no jams,” meaning someone isn’t funny, and “Runch Randa,” a name RM used for a game character when he was younger.
As the sauces grew stronger, j-hope and Jin stood up from their seats, with j-hope even dancing to their latest hit "Swim" to distract himself from the spice. Jin, meanwhile, continued coughing and reacting strongly, while the others tried to cool down in their own ways.
Sean then introduced a superlatives segment, where the members pointed to who best fit each statement. Jung Kook and Jin were picked as the “best chefs”, while V and Jimin were voted “most likely to miss the tour bus”. Jin also drew attention during this part, asking for more milk and even getting the most votes for being the “one most likely to retire on a fishing boat”. When asked who might not make it to the final wing, j-hope and Jin raised their hands first, with the others quickly agreeing and raised their hands as well.
As they moved closer to the final round, Jimin lightened the mood by suggesting another wing with a “C’mon, wing!” line. To help them recover, Sean offered ice cream before the last level.
The conversation then shifted to anime, with Sean asking what makes a strong opening theme. The members shared their picks and even sang parts of their favorites, showing a different side of their interests outside of music.
For the final wing, most of the group pushed through, encouraging each other to try it. V, however, had already tapped out earlier and stuck with ice cream and milk on the side. In the end, the group completed the challenge and wrapped up the episode by striking individual poses that reflected their experience after taking on the show’s spiciest wings.
—By Kent Joahs Escabarte, PUSH ABS-CBN Intern