On March 25, 2026, a candid livestream from BOYNEXTDOOR member Jaehyun became a viral sensation after he opened up about his deep admiration for his senior labelmate, BTS’s Jungkook.
While it is common for junior idols within the “HYBE family” to cite BTS as role models, Jaehyun’s remarkably honest and relatable description of his nerves left fans stunned.
During the broadcast, he recounted several near-miss encounters with the global superstar at the HYBE headquarters, describing a level of fanboying that many listeners found both hilarious and deeply endearing.
A Nervous Encounter at the HYBE Gym and Building
The confession began when a fan asked Jaehyun if he would be willing to film a dance challenge with Jungkook.
Rather than giving a standard industry response, Jaehyun admitted that he was physically unable to handle the pressure of such an interaction.
He explained that even seeing Jungkook from a distance causes him significant physical distress due to his intense respect and admiration. Recalling a recent sighting, Jaehyun shared:
“I’m not sure if I can talk about this, but I’m being a bit cautious too… I don’t think I could do that, because… wow, I saw him passing by at the building.
Even with his back turned, I could recognize him immediately. My hands started shaking from all the nerves. I bumped into him again in the gym and I felt like I couldn’t breathe.”
Jaehyun’s reaction highlights the massive presence Jungkook commands even among other successful idols.
He went on to describe the feeling as similar to a “first love you run into during school days,” a comparison that immediately resonated with the K-pop community.
This specific phrasing led fans to trend the “first love” narrative, moving away from the common “father and son” jokes that had previously circulated due to the two idols’ striking visual resemblance.
Fandom Reactions and the “Director-Intern” Dynamic
Social media platforms were quickly flooded with fan reactions to Jaehyun’s vulnerability. Many noted the irony of fans calling Jaehyun “Jungkook’s son” while he himself was confessing to a one-sided crush.
On X (formerly Twitter), one fan joked,
“I hope it’s clear now that Jaehyun doesn’t want y’all calling him Jungkook’s son the way he keeps saying he wants to be his wife and that Jungkook was his first love.”
The sentiment that Jaehyun is the “ultimate ARMY” within the HYBE building has solidified his image as an authentic and relatable rookie artist.
The buzz around Jungkook’s interactions didn’t stop with Jaehyun’s confession.
Around the same time, fans were treated to a playful social media exchange between Jungkook and fellow BTS member V.
After V made his long-awaited TikTok debut with a dance video, Jungkook took on the role of a stern “Director Jeon,” jokingly scolding V in the comments for the video’s resolution:
“The quality is bad. I told you to upload it in high quality lol seriously. I told you to upload in HD… UGHHHHH!”
This “director-intern” dynamic delighted fans, who recalled Jungkook’s meticulous nature as the creator of Golden Closet Films.
The contrast between Jaehyun’s trembling nerves and the BTS members’ casual, bickering friendship provided a full spectrum of the “Jungkook experience” in 2026- ranging from an untouchable “first love” figure to a detail-oriented social media manager.
As BOYNEXTDOOR continues their ascent in the industry, the possibility of a face-to-face interaction between Jaehyun and his “first love” remains one of the most highly anticipated moments for fans of both groups.
