

In November 2016, he decided to forgo taking the CSATs, Korea's nationwide university entrance exam. He graduated from Seoul's School of Performing Arts, an arts high school, in 2017. In June 2012, he appeared in Jo Kwon's "I'm Da One" music video and also worked as a backup dancer for Glam before his debut. To work on his dance skills in preparation for debut, he went to Los Angeles during the summer of 2012 to receive dance training from Movement Lifestyle. He eventually chose to become a trainee under Big Hit Entertainment after seeing RM, now his fellow band member and leader in BTS, perform. Though he was not selected, he received casting offers from seven entertainment companies. In 2011, Jung Kook auditioned for the South Korean talent show Superstar K during its auditions in Daegu. Jung Kook initially had dreams of becoming a badminton player when he was young, but after seeing G-Dragon perform "Heartbreaker" on television, it influenced him to want to become a singer.

When he became a trainee, he transferred to Singu Middle School in Seoul. He attended Baekyang Elementary and Middle School in Busan. His family consists of his parents and an elder brother. Jeon Jung-kook (Korean: 전정국) was born on September 1, 1997, in Busan, South Korea.
