On February 26 at 3:42 a.m., Jungkook went live for approximately one hour and 28 minutes. During the broadcast, he drank alcohol and sang songs alongside a close friend he lives with and his older brother. The candid session quickly spread across social media, drawing mixed reactions from fans and netizens.
Jungkook shared that he had been extremely busy preparing for BTS’s upcoming comeback. “February was really hectic. I didn’t even have time to go to the dermatologist. March will be busy too since the comeback is right around the corner, so there’s a lot to prepare,” he said.
At one point, when his friend began smoking during the livestream, Jungkook commented, “Stop smoking and sing. We’re live—why are you smoking?” He then reflected more broadly on live broadcasts, saying, “Honestly, I don’t even know what I’m supposed to be careful about when I go live. I just want to be comfortable. I’m human too. I turned this on because I wanted to.”
The idol also appeared to express frustration regarding his agency, HYBE’s subsidiary label BigHit Music. “I like you guys,” he told fans. “I don’t know… I’m just annoyed. I want to live the way I want. I don’t even know about the company. But I don’t want to lose what’s precious to me, so I’ll still work hard.”
While speaking to his friend, Jungkook added, “Maybe when I’m drunk and talking like this, it’s just my personality and my thoughts. Speak comfortably. Don’t worry about the company. Of course, this could become an issue, but this is me.” He also admitted that he used to smoke in the past but has quit, adding that he worries the company might react strongly to such admissions.
Left alone toward the end of the livestream, Jungkook sighed and said, “This isn’t something I discussed with the company. I guess I was feeling frustrated.” He emphasized his love for music, performing, and especially for ARMY, BTS’s fandom. “If there’s no one watching, why would I sing or dance? Why would I write songs or try so hard? The reason I move forward and do what I do isn’t because I’m free—it’s because there are people waiting for me.”
However, his repeated use of profanity during the broadcast and visible intoxication sparked criticism. Some viewers felt that going live at nearly 4 a.m.—a time when company monitoring might be limited—was irresponsible given BTS’s global influence and the proximity of their comeback. Comments ranged from “He should think about the team and fans” to “Being honest doesn’t justify everything.” Others defended him, saying, “He’s just being real,” and “Let Jungkook live the way he wants.”
This is not the first time Jungkook has made headlines ahead of the group’s return. In December last year, he was swept up in dating rumors with aespa’s Winter. Speculation intensified after reports that the two allegedly got matching tattoos and that Jungkook attended aespa’s concert during his military service. However, both BigHit Music and SM Entertainment declined to comment on the rumors.
Meanwhile, BTS is set to make their full-group comeback on March 20 at 1 p.m. KST with their fifth full-length album, “ARIRANG.” The album will feature 14 tracks exploring themes of identity, longing, and deep love. To celebrate, the group will hold “BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE｜ARIRANG” on March 21 at 8 p.m. at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul—the first time a solo concert event has been held at the iconic location.
The group will then kick off a massive world tour beginning April 9 at Goyang Stadium, with three shows already sold out in presale. The tour will span 34 cities and 82 shows across Japan, North America, Europe, South America, and Asia—marking the largest single tour in K-pop history, with additional dates expected.
As anticipation for BTS’s return reaches its peak, Jungkook’s emotional livestream has added another layer of attention to an already pivotal moment in the group’s career.
Sources: Nate
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