All the lucky ladies who dated BTS before their 2013 debut
Before BTS stepped into the spotlight with their 2013 debut, the members were still teenagers navigating school, training, and the first awkward chapters of romance. Those early stories now sit alongside years of deliberate privacy, as the group has maintained a consistent line that schedules and fan expectations leave little room for public relationships. The pre-debut anecdotes remain the clearest window into that earlier time.
Context of Pre-Debut Life Before BTS
The members were teenagers or still in school when many of these stories took place. RM, Suga, J-Hope, and V all referenced middle or high school periods when sharing their experiences. Suga balanced underground music aspirations with studies, submitting a love letter to a local radio show while still in Grade 9. The original article already points to these school years as the setting for the dating stories that later surfaced in interviews and variety shows.
RM
Rapper RM remains the member with the most detailed pre-debut account. He spoke on Problematic Men about a high school girlfriend, describing the relationship as incompatible personalities trying to fit together like a circle and triangle becoming a square. He noted that she had many guy friends and often made him doubt himself, though he denied outright jealousy. The relationship ended several years before BTS debuted, and he has not confirmed any public partnerships since.
Suga
Suga recalled a middle school crush that began with a letter to a local radio host. He eventually confessed, and the girl agreed to date him. The relationship ended quickly once things turned awkward between them, a detail that still feels familiar to anyone who remembers middle school dating. No further details have emerged beyond that short-lived connection.
J-Hope
J-Hope chose the song “Solo” by Dynamic Duo on Rookie King and explained that it reminded him of his high school girlfriend leaving him for another guy. The moment stands as his only confirmed pre-debut relationship story. Since then, he has not spoken publicly about any other partnerships.
V
V once described himself as someone who dated frequently before debut but never stayed in any relationship long. He said he had never been in a serious relationship and could not refuse a confession, which he believed explained why none lasted more than 20 days. The comment came from a pre-debut interview and remains his clearest statement on the subject.
Jimin's Confirmed Pre-Debut Relationship
Jimin had previously mentioned only a one-sided crush from his younger years. In August 2025, BigHit Music confirmed that he dated actress Song Da-eun many years ago based on mutual feelings. The agency stated the relationship ended and is not ongoing. This marked the first time the company has officially confirmed a dating rumor involving any BTS member.
BTS Members on Dating and Privacy Post-Debut
Since 2013, no member has confirmed a public relationship. Members have repeatedly cited the demanding K-pop schedule that leaves little time for partners or even family visits. The original article noted the business incentive to preserve the fantasy for fans, and later coverage has echoed that same logic. Rumors continue to circulate, yet the group has maintained a consistent approach of silence or denial.
How BTS Has Addressed Relationship Rumors Over Time
Pre-debut stories were shared openly on variety shows and in interviews. After 2013, the pattern shifted to privacy and schedule-related explanations. The 2025 agency confirmation regarding Jimin represents a selective exception rather than a change in overall policy. Jungkook’s rumored connection to classmate Park Se-won still rests on an unconfirmed photo and remains unverified.
The pre-debut era captures a different chapter, when the members were still students balancing training with normal teenage experiences. Those brief relationships and crushes now sit next to years of deliberate distance from public scrutiny, a line the group has held steady even as rumors persist.
