Jin of BTS biography: from Coldplay to the 2026 Arirang tour

If you look up Jin of BTS in 2026, you find an interesting fact: the oldest member of the group was the first to complete military service, the first to embark on a solo tour attended by 287.000 people, and now returns to the stage with BTS’s worldwide comeback. Kim Seok-jin went from a young man discovered on the street to a singer, songwriter and entrepreneur. Here we review his full biography with information verified through October 2026.

Who is Jin?

Jin, the stage name of Kim Seok-jin, is a South Korean singer and songwriter born on December 4, 1992, in Anyang, South Korea. He is the oldest member of BTS, the group with which he debuted in 2013. He is known for his ballads, the single “The Astronaut” with Coldplay, and his albums Happy and Echo. In 2026 he takes part in the group’s Arirang album and tour.

Jin’s personal details

Jin’s childhood and early years

Kim Seok-jin was born and raised in Anyang, a city in Gyeonggi Province near Seoul. According to his Wikipedia profile, he studied Film at Konkuk University, graduating in 2017, and later pursued postgraduate studies at Hanyang Cyber University.

His entry into the industry has a story fans fondly repeat: a Big Hit Entertainment representative spotted him while he was walking down the street. He went on to become a vocalist in BTS.

Reliable sources have shared little about his family, so at Famosix we prefer not to go beyond what he has made public himself: his brother joined him in 2018 in his first business venture, a restaurant.

Jin’s professional career

BTS debuted on June 13, 2013, under Big Hit Entertainment, with Jin as one of its four vocalists. As the seven-member group grew, he added solo songs to its albums, including “Awake” (2016), “Epiphany” (2018) and “Moon” (2020).

These are the key moments in his career:

• 2013: debuted with BTS on June 13.
• 2019: released his first independent song, “Tonight”.
• 2021: appointed South Korea’s Special Presidential Envoy for Future Generations and Culture alongside his bandmates.
• 2022: released “The Astronaut”, written with Coldplay, his debut solo single.
• 2022-2024: completed military service from December 13, 2022, to June 12, 2024.
• 2024-2025: released the albums Happy and Echo and toured with the RunSeokjin Ep. Tour.
• 2026: returned with BTS for the Arirang album and world tour.

The RunSeokjin Ep. Tour visited Goyang, Chiba, Osaka, Anaheim, Dallas, Tampa, Newark, London and Amsterdam between June 28 and November 1, 2025, with an additional concert in Incheon. According to Wikipedia, it drew around 287.000 people and grossed around 46,1 million dollars, with Japan as its most lucrative market. It was the third solo tour by a BTS member.

Jin’s discography and notable projects

He has also written songs of his own, such as “Moon” and “Epiphany”, and worked with Coldplay, a relatively uncommon milestone for a South Korean artist.

Jin’s personal life

Jin keeps his private life discreet, while his public image is built mainly on his playful character and appearances in the group’s programs. In business, he opened the Japanese restaurant Otsu Seiromushi with his brother in 2018 and, according to his Wikipedia profile, had plans to launch a liquor brand called Igin with chef Baek Jong-won.

He is also a global ambassador for brands including Fred, Gucci, Laneige and Alo Yoga. There is no verified public information about a partner or children, so we prefer not to speculate.

Facts about Jin

• A Big Hit talent scout spotted him walking down the street, rather than at a traditional audition.
• He is the oldest BTS member and was the first to be discharged from military service, on June 12, 2024.
• He graduated in Film from Konkuk University in 2017.
• He co-wrote “The Astronaut” with Coldplay, a single that marked his solo debut.
• His solo tour ended with an additional concert in Incheon on October 2, 2025.
• He is a global ambassador for jewelry brand Fred and other labels including Gucci and Laneige.

Jin in 2026

On March 20, 2026, BTS released Arirang, its return as a seven-member group, with the single “Swim”, which became its seventh number one in the United States and reached the top of the Billboard 200 chart for two consecutive weeks. The next day, March 21, Netflix streamed the concert BTS The Comeback Live | Arirang from Gwanghwamun Square, and the documentary The Return premiered on March 27.

The Arirang World Tour began on April 9, 2026, in Goyang. Peru has a particularly anticipated stop: BTS performs three concerts at Lima’s San Marcos Stadium on October 7, 9 and 10, 2026, with tickets sold out. To discover other names in global music, visit the international biographies.

Why Jin’s solo period matters

During BTS’s hiatus, each member pursued his own path, and Jin’s had a particular distinction: he was the first to leave military service and therefore the first to perform again for audiences. His discharge on June 12, 2024, opened a period in which he released two albums within months of each other, Happy in November 2024 and Echo in May 2025, and then brought them to stages on three continents.

The RunSeokjin Ep. Tour shows the scale of that leap. According to Wikipedia, it comprised 20 concerts in nine cities, around 287.000 tickets and revenue close to 46,1 million dollars. Japan, with the Chiba and Osaka dates, accounted for most of the revenue, around 32,5 million. The setlist mixed his own songs with BTS classics in acoustic versions and medleys, with 19 songs in the main set and three in the encore.

At Famosix, we see it as a career built step by step. First came individual songs on the group’s albums, then the single with Coldplay, followed by the albums and finally the tour. Each stage built on the previous one, which explains why his return with Arirang in 2026 was not a comeback from scratch but a continuation of work that never stopped during the hiatus.

Where to watch and listen to Jin

The Arirang album, released with BTS on March 20, 2026, is the starting point for listening to his most recent work. The March 21 concert and the documentary The Return streamed on Netflix, while his solo albums, Happy and Echo, are ideal companions for discovering him as a solo artist.

Conclusion

Jin showed that a member of a hugely successful group can build his own career without giving up his place on the shared stage. To learn more about the group, see the BTS biography here on Famosix, where we update the information as the tour develops.

Sources consulted

• Wikipedia: Jin (singer)
• Wikipedia: RunSeokjin Ep. Tour
• Wikipedia: BTS
• Wikipedia: Arirang World Tour
• Pollstar: BTS dates in Latin America
• NBC News: all seven members completed military service