On July 29, 2026, BTS’ Jimin became the focus of attention in the K-pop community after XLOV member Rui spoke about him during an interview on The Zach Sang Show. Rui explained that watching Jimin perform contemporary dance played a key role in his decision to become an idol. The discussion took place as part of XLOV’s appearance on the show, where the members talked about their backgrounds and experiences in the industry.
Rui, whose full name is Chen Kuan Jui, is a Taiwanese dancer who serves as the main dancer in XLOV. Before entering the idol world, he studied dance through college. At certain points during that period, he felt burnt out and considered other paths. It was around then that he encountered K-pop through BTS. The group’s performances shifted his outlook, and Jimin’s stage work in particular stood out to him.
XLOV is a four-member group made up of Wumuti, Rui, Hyun, and Haru. The group operates under 257 Entertainment and is managed by WM Entertainment. It debuted on January 7, 2025, with the single album I’mma Be and is recognized for its genderless concept.
Rui has spoken openly about how his earlier dance training and later discovery of K-pop connected to his current role.
In the interview, Rui described the sequence of events in his own words:
“I studied dance all the way through college, but like anyone, there were times I felt burnt out and wondered if there was another path for me. That’s when I discovered K-pop through BTS, and they completely changed my perspective. I’ve always loved being on stage. Seeing Jimin perform contemporary dance made me think, ‘That’s what I want to do.'”
He continued by explaining the practical steps that followed:
“Back in my hometown, I started uploading dance cover videos to social media. One of those videos led to me being cast, so I moved to Korea and began training as an idol.”
The comments Rui shared on The Zach Sang Show circulated quickly among listeners and online communities. In response, fans referred to Jimin with the phrase “Idol of Idols.”
One fan said:
“not him reaffirming jimin’s title of idol of idols, so cute 🥰”
Several fans chimed in and commented on X.
More fans shared their thoughts on the same.
BTS’ Jimin’s shirt tops FIFA auction
A custom shirt worn by BTS’ Jimin during the halftime performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final sold for 110,000 US dollars at a charity auction held by Christie’s. The result placed the item at the top of the sale, equal to the price reached by the official game-used ball from the final match. The shirt was designed by Agro Studio.
The group has now departed for New York to perform for the ARIRANG World Tour at MetLife Stadium on August 1 and 2.
Edited by Toshali Kritika