Among the celebrities who are friends with BTS, Kim Jong Kook is undoubtedly one of the most notable and beloved figures among ARMY. The singer is known for his close friendship with the younger BTS members V and Jungkook, largely due to their shared pαѕѕion for working out at the gym.
Fans have even suspected that Kim Jong Kook was the one who introduced BTS to their current fitness trainer, Ma Seon Ho. During V’s military service, trainer Ma once shared that he had visited the idol at his base together with Kim Jong Kook.
In several videos on the personal YouTube channels of Kim Jong Kook and Ma Seon Ho, they have occasionally mentioned and discussed idols’ bodybuilding progress in quite some detail. In some photos shared on Instagram, they also revealed moments of working out together at the gym with the two BTS members—further demonstrating their close friendship.
Not only is Kim Jong Kook close with V and Jungkook, but he has also revealed that he was extremely impressed with BTS’s eldest member, Jin, when the idol appeared in an episode of Running Man. According to Kim Jong Kook, a single gesture from Jin made him remark that Jin is truly different from many other celebrities.
Specifically, Kim Jong Kook’s comment about Jin appeared in an older episode of Running Man in which Jin joined as a special guest and had a direct matchup with senior entertainer Ji Suk Jin, who is also quite close to the idol.
Before the challenge, the members were asked to choose cars to divide into teams. When it was Jong Kook’s turn to pick, he happened to select Jin’s car. Another lucky member who ended up on Jin’s team was comedian Yang Sechan, and the three of them soon began chatting together in a lively conversation.
Interestingly, Sechan shared that he often calls people who are wealthier than him “hyung” (older brother), so he thought he should call Jin “hyung” since Jin is richer than him. For context, Yang Sechan was born in 1986, while Jin was born in 1992, and both are well-known entertainers in the кσяєαn entertainment industry.
At first, Jin seemed a little confused and shy when Sechan called him “hyung.” However, after hearing the reason, Jin agreed and even said that he often does the same thing himself. He then responded humorously like a true older brother: “Yes, Sechan.” Everyone burst into laughter at Jin’s straightforward acknowledgment of his “wealth”!
The moment also prompted Kim Jong Kook, who was sitting beside them, to excitedly point out that this is exactly what makes Jin different. According to Kim Jong Kook, Jin does not try too hard to appear overly humble but instead shows his true self. Usually, celebrities might feel embarrαѕѕed or deny their wealth or fame, but Jin does the opposite—he embraces compliments and confidently acknowledges his own fame and success.
What makes Jin’s approach so sкιℓℓful is the way he adds humor and friendliness, making the conversation feel comfortable. As a result, even when he “admits that he is rich and famous,” people even find him more sincere and endearing because of his straightforward personality.
Even Jin himself admitted that he was not trying to act modest—he was simply acknowledging what he has. Jong Kook and Sechan were completely won over by his honesty and admired him even more after speaking with him directly. They even encouraged Jin to keep this personality, noting that not many people can pull it off.
Clearly, humility is a good virtue, but deliberately putting oneself down just to please others is soмєтнing else entirely. Rather than hiding his efforts or achievements, Jin confidently acknowledged his true worth, striking a balance between confidence and sincerity that many people admire. Through this moment, fans were also able to see a very mature side of Jin: someone who clearly knows who he is, where he stands, and how to carry himself.
