Jimin's Early Life and Education

  

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Park Jimin attended Busan's Hoedong Elementary School and Yoonsan Middle School. Yoonsan Middle School closed in February 2013 and is currently used as the Busan Forest Education Center. In February 2018, Hoedong Elementary School was converted into Hoedong Maru, a nutrition center and field trip site for children.

He revealed he gained interest in this kind of career after watching (Bi) Rain's performances. 

During middle school, he attended Just Dance Academy to study popping. 

In 2011, Jimin entered the prestigious Busan High School of Arts. The school had dance, arts and classical music departments, and he became a talk of the whole school as he was admitted as the top student of the whole school, a first ever for a student from the Dance Department. Jimin participated every class of Korean dance, modern dance and ballet.

In an interview with Korea Now, Jimin's homeroom teacher, who is said to have a lot of memories with him and knows him among any other teacher in Busan High School of Arts, shared about how Jimin was like as a student. He said: "He was excellent in both his studies and dances, entering as the top student of his department. When he was hanging out with his friends in the classroom, I did not see him dancing as much. But I remember when he was in the practice studio, he practiced more than anyone else. He loved listening to the music, so I remember whenever music came out, he always wanted to express something through that music." He said in another interview: "I think he loved to dance. When I asked where Jimin is to friends, he was always at a practice room.  

The teacher revealed: "When he was in 10th grade, he and his classmates did a surprise celebration at my wedding. I still remember Jimin singing and dancing at the same time with a mic in his hand but he didn't even get tired. People told me they felt like they weren't at a wedding but at a musical show."

Asked about his reaction to Jimin becoming an idol, he said: "To be honest, I opposed at first. Because that job, being an idol, it's easy to dream about but definitely not easy to succeed. So when he told me he was taking an audition for Producer Bang Si Hyuk, I told Jimin that this is his last chance. After this audition, I told him you have to choose your path on becoming an idol or a modern dancer. But on that day, he passed the audition. As far as I know thousands of people took that audition but Jimin was the only one that passed. So after that, I started to think, 'He definitely has potential.'"

After a teacher suggested he audition with an entertainment company, it led him to Big Hit Entertainment. Once he passed the auditions in 2012, he transferred to Korean Arts High School, graduating in 2014.  

It was said that Jimin's teacher did not approve of him being an idol because his talent was too precious. Teacher Lee Hwasung shared in an interview: "Jimin has been very good in modern dance since he entered the school, and he has a talent for many kinds of dance. When he said that he was choosing popular dance over muyong (artistic dance), I could not help but think of losing such precious talent, and the reality that the path of a singer-dancer is difficult and success cannot be easily guaranteed. That was why I opposed it, I did not know he would be this successful. In any case, Jimin is someone who does his best in everything, and I think he is where he is now because of his persistent effort in BTS."

In an interview with Busan Arts High School, Jimin's father was asked to talk about Jimin's abilities from an early age that made it possible for him to transition from muyong (artistic dance) to music.

Jimin's father said, "If I were to tell you how he got into Busan High School of Arts, first of all, when he was in third grade of middle school, he showed me what he wrote for class where they made introductions about their future. He specified in his writing that he would enter Busan Arts High School and study muyong, and combine his foundations in it with music he was interested in, and then become a singer or a celebrity. Of course, he has been good at dancing and singing since he was little. When Jimin was in the fifth grade of elementary and our family went to karaoke, he would sing the high-pitched parts of Maya's 'Azalea' so well. In fact, cause Jimin was good at math and science, I wanted him to go to a science high school and continue studying. However, I did not object to what he wanted. Because what he wrote about his future was so concrete and perfect/flawless (smiles), I did not go against it and respected his opinion. Jimin is a mature child, who has always used honorifics since he was young and up to now, so instead of opposing, I allowed him to do what he wanted. I can say that as a parent, I knew my son's giftedness at an early age.