BTS casting director on selecting Jungkook without an audition: "Was drawn to him as if by fate"

Find raw gems and turn them into diamonds.

BTS is one of the most renowned K-pop groups in the world, with millions of fans across the globe. Recently, casting director Noh Min-mi revealed some fascinating insights into how the band members were selected, especially Jungkook’s unique entry into BTS.

In an interview with a media portal, Noh Min-mi explained that while the other members of BTS auditioned for their spots, Jungkook was chosen without any vocal test or formal audition. As she described her work as a casting director, she stated that her job is to "find raw gems and turn them into diamonds." She went into more detail about her training, which covered character, skills, scouting, and visual management.

When questioned directly about her involvement with BTS, Min-mi disclosed that she was initially drawn to Suga's charm and smile, which led her to join the band. But she herself cast Jungkook, vividly narrating the scene.

She recalled, “There were so many casting directors at the scene. One boy caught my eye. His eyes were bright, he looked adorable, and it felt like he was glowing. I was drawn to him as if by fate.”

Also read: Jungkook's "Seven" becomes first song by a Korean solo artist to reach 2.5 billion Spotify streams

Min-mi went on to say that Jungkook was the person she insisted on including in the group during her appearance on the Kajufriends YouTube channel. She also mentioned that she didn't want to lose him during the audition process, so she gave him her card right away without asking him to take a test.

Jungkook's career path has only strengthened the legend surrounding him, even though his casting story is still remarkable. His worldwide hit song "Seven (featuring Latto)" recently broke the previous record on Spotify, becoming the first Korean solo artist's song to reach 2.5 billion plays.

Continuing his streak of success, Jungkook is now the most-streamed K-pop soloist in history with over 9.4 billion streams. His latest album Golden is also closing in on a massive milestone, nearing 6 billion plays on Spotify alone.