Ask AP529 | Episode 9: BTS Member College Degrees
This post was written by Leslie Day
Welcome to Ask AP529 where YOU get to utilize OUR brain wrinkles to find answers to your most burning BTS questions. This episode’s question comes from our very own Shels, one of AP529’s Purple Envoys and the head of our Event Planning Team. She asks:
What degrees do BTS members hold? What is their highest level of education?
When Shels asked me this question while she was sitting with AP529 friends on their way to the Golden exhibit, I was excited because it was one of the first things I’d looked up about BTS when I became ARMY back in April of 2022. Wow, that was three years ago. And what a three years it has been.
I knew that all the members had Bachelor’s degrees and some had begun working on their Master's degrees, but finding the primary and/or credible sources for that information has proven to be a challenge.
Jin was on his way to his first day of university when a Big Hit scout handed him a card on the bus. He’s the only one who attended a university that was not primarily online. His graduation was commemorated in a VLIVE in 2017—he couldn’t attend his graduation ceremony because BTS had an awards show that day—the maknae line sang JK’s graduation song to him. Please take some time to enjoy it.
So what about the rest of the members? Let’s answer that question in Fan Chant order:
Kim Namjoon: bachelor’s degree in Broadcasting and Entertainment from Global Cyber University (2019), where he earned the President's Award. He subsequently started a Master’s degree in Business Administration.
Kim Seokjin: bachelor’s degree in Acting from Konkuk University (2017). He started a Master’s degree in Film from Hanyang Cyber University.
Min Yoongi: bachelor’s degree in Broadcasting and Entertainment from Global Cyber University (2019), where he earned the President's Award. He started a Master’s degree in Advertising and Media from Hanyang Cyber University.
Jung Hoseok: bachelor’s degree in Broadcasting and Entertainment from Global Cyber University (2019). He started a Master’s degree in Advertising and Media from Hanyang Cyber University.
Park Jimin: bachelor’s degree in Broadcasting and Entertainment from Global Cyber University (2021), where he earned the President's Award. He started a Master’s degree in Advertising and Media from Hanyang Cyber University.
Kim Taehyung: bachelor’s degree in Broadcasting and Entertainment from Global Cyber University (2021), where he earned the President's Award. He started a Master’s degree in Advertising and Media from Hanyang Cyber University.
Jeon Jungkook: bachelor’s degree in Broadcasting and Entertainment from Global Cyber University (2022), where he earned the President's Award. He started a Master’s degree in Advertising and Media from Hanyang Cyber University.
The members made good use of the pandemic to enroll in their Master’s programs, but I cannot find any graduation dates. (It’s my personal opinion that the Artist-made Merch series was a project for one of their classes in this program. Think about it, they went through a development phase, marketing, release, and sale. And they recorded it all. You can find all this on YouTube. But that is just my theory.)
Yoongi was the first member enrolled in Global Cyber University in 2013 (before debut) and Namjoon and Hobi enrolled the following year. The rest of the members were enrolled at the same university after they graduated from high school.
Global Cyber University was established in 2010 with the authorization of the Korean Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. Their first center was opened in Seoul. Since its founding, it has been selected by the same department to be the lead research institution of several projects and it seems as if many K-pop idols enroll and complete their education through them. In 2019, they opened the K-POP Promotion Center 'POPKON‘ (Seoul Learning Center). GCU is very proud of their BTS Alumni and even have a page dedicated to them (which is where I found their official graduation years).
This question took me down the rabbit hole of Global Cyber University. From what I can read, it is doing amazing work in bringing awareness to mental and emotional health issues in Korea. I can see why BTS, specifically SUGA, would be proud to be a part of this educational institution. If you’d like to see the work they do with the endorsement of the Korean government on Brain Education & Social Engagement, go to this page.
On the “Why GCU” webpage, they explain that their programs are meant to be accessible to a wide variety of people so that “most people can access some form of education, regardless of their financial and lifestyle situations.” BTS fit the latter. And one of their goals is to “show the world the deeper meaning of Korean culture.” BTS certainly have aligned themselves with that goal.
Around this time the members were taking time to study for their degrees, there were many articles written insinuating that BTS used college enrollment to defer military service until the age of 28. This was not the case, as conscription in South Korea requires male citizens between the age of 18 and 28 to perform compulsory military service. In a 2020 interview, Jin said:
"I think many people are curious about my enlistment. As you know, nothing has been decided yet," and "I consider military service a natural duty, and I will respond whenever my country calls."
This July 2020 article shows that it was always BTS’ intention to serve in the military and their enrollment university was not connected at all. They were set to enlist at the conclusion of the Map of the Soul Tour, but we all know the pandemic drastically altered BTS’ plans. According to a revision of Korea’s Military Service Act, those who have received recognition from the government for helping enhance the country’s cultural influence worldwide can opt to defer their military services to age 30. BTS were able to request a postponement of their enlistment during the pandemic because all group members met that condition after becoming the youngest recipients of the South Korean Order of Cultural Merit in 2019. However, they all chose to end that deferment after the pandemic to serve their country.
What BTS lore is tickling your brain? Ask us! Keep our brain wrinkles busy!
Go to the contact page on the AP529 website to submit your own question.
Join us LIVE every Sunday evening at 8pm ET for #the529live, a wrap up of each week's “Monday Muster”, thoughtful discussions, and tons of laughter! And catch us on TikTok each Wednesday night at 9pm ET for #the529tea, when we talk Bangtan news and dish about any TEA that might be happening on Kim Namjoon’s internet.
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CREDITS
YouTube/Web: Naver, Global Cyber University website, BTS Live Archive on YouTube