Unofficial Search-and-Find Biographies: BTS Art Copyright © 2026 by Gustavo Morais de Oliveira Soares Text Copyright © 2026 HarperCollins Focus LLC All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in whole or in part, scanned, photocopied, recorded, distributed in any printed or electronic form, or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, or by any information storage and retrieval system now known or hereafter invented, without express written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Published by Cider Mill Press, an imprint of HarperCollins Focus LLC, 501 Nelson Place, Nashville, TN 37214 USA. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the internet or via any other means without permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please support authors’ rights, and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials. 13-Digit ISBN: 978-1-40034-922-7 10-Digit ISBN: 1-40034-922-2 Books published by Cider Mill Press Book Publishers are available at special discounts for bulk purchases in the United States by corporations, institutions, and other organizations. For more information, please contact the publisher. cidermillpress.com Any internet addresses, phone numbers, or company or product information printed in this book are offered as a resource and are not intended in any way to be or to imply an endorsement by Cider Mill Press, nor does Cider Mill Press vouch for the existence, content, or services of these sites, phone numbers, companies, or products beyond the life of this book. Without limiting the exclusive rights of any author, contributor or the publisher of this publication, any unauthorized use of this publication to train generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is expressly prohibited. HarperCollins also exercise their rights under Article 4(3) of the Digital Single Market Directive 2019/790 and expressly reserve this publication from the text and data mining exception. HarperCollins Publishers, Macken House, 39/40 Mayor Street Upper, Dublin 1, D01 C9W8, Ireland (https://www.harpercollins.com) Art direction and design: Emily Sullivan Editor: Amanda Sobotka Coloring assistance: The Story Division Typography: Gotham, Squeezed, TT Travels Next, Delve Hand Printed in Italy 26 27 28 29 30 RTLO 5 4 3 2 1 First Edition
UNOFFICIAL SEARCH-AND-FIND BIOGR APHIES
I LLUSTR ATE D BY G US M O R AIS
To the ARMY community, your dedication to understanding and loving yourselves while building meaningful connections with others has been a huge inspiration to me. I hope that spirit comes through in every illustration and that you can see a little of yourselves reflected throughout these pages.
READY, SET, FIND
BANGTAN! This one-of-a-kind search-and-find biography is your all-access pass into the world of BTS, celebrating every era, iconic performance, and unforgettable moment along the way. From the raw ambition of “No More Dream” to the shimmering disco glow of “Dynamite” and beyond, each page drops you into a scene inspired by their extraordinary journey. Wander through practice rooms, stadium stages, and dreamlike landscapes that echo the HYYH era, the introspection of Map of the Soul: 7, and the comforting warmth of BE. This is a visual tribute to the seven artists who turned their music into a movement. This is your own BTS universe: No permission to dance required! As you search for RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, look closely. Like in every BTS project, the details matter. These pages are filled with hidden references made just for ARMY to spot. Cue up your favorite albums and find your inner child as you search every bulletproof era—through the triumphs, the blood, sweat, and tears, and everything in between. The Unofficial Search-and-Find Biographies invite you to discover the extraordinary lives of your favorite figures like never before. This immersive series takes you on a vibrant, interactive tour highlighting major moments, achievements, and themes from the personal and professional lives of superstars, bringing their inspiring stories to life in a way that’s as engaging as it is unforgettable.
MEET BTS RM Kim Namjoon
Jin
SUGA
Kim Seokjin
Min Yoongi
j-hope
Jung Hoseok
V
Jimin
Kim Taehyung
Park Jimin
Jung Kook
Jeon Jungkook
PRE-DEBUT Before their 2013 debut, BTS (also known as the Bulletproof Boy Scouts and the Bangtan Boys) formed under the small agency Big Hit Entertainment, beginning with RM, who joined around 2010 as an underground rapper. He became the group’s foundation. Over time, SUGA, j-hope, Jin, Jung Kook, Jimin, and V were recruited through auditions, scouting, and training, with V initially kept hidden from the public. From 2010–2013, they lived together in modest dorms, trained intensely, and faced uncertainty as the lineup and concept evolved from hip-hop crew to idol group. These early years built their strong teamwork and focus on authenticity, leading to their final seven-member group and debut on June 13, 2013, with “No More Dream.”
FIND BTS: 1 RM
2 Jin
BONUS ITEMS: 3 SUGA
4 j-hope
5 Jimin
6 V
7 Jung Kook
1
Big Hit “Hit It!” audition notice
2 Rap battle poster 3 7 Yoojung Ssambaps
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This book represents countless hours of research and illustration, but it would never have come to life without the support of some truly important people. First of all, I could never have come this far without the two people I admire most in the world: my wife, Gisele, and our son, Gabriel. I thank Gisele for sharing all these years with me through her endless love and support: working by my side late into the night, finding solutions to our daily family challenges, and encouraging me to overcome any personal difficulty. From the very beginning, she has been my greatest inspiration and supporter in countless ways, helping me shape my career with ideas and sensibility, and by pushing me to do my best in every creative decision. Your love for art and your deep empathy have helped me become the artist I am but, most importantly, continue to make me a better human being every day. And to our child, Gabriel: It’s amazing how your curious, intelligent, and humorous view of the world makes me see everything in life and art from new and surprising perspectives. I love how precise and joyful your comments are, like when you asked me if the stripes on the candy canes I was drawing shouldn’t be more diagonal. Thank you for the privilege of watching you grow into the wonderful person you are becoming. Te ame, Gisele. Te ame, Gabe. To my extended family: my heartfelt thanks to my parents, Ana Marlene and José, for believing in my dreams, and to my siblings, Caio, Christian, Renata and Mabi, for always cheering me on. I’d also like to thank my uncle Cezar for paying for my first illustration classes when I was a teenager, and my uncle Elieser for teaching me how to paint during my university years. And also to my aunt Sonia, for bringing my first drawing tablets from the United States to Brazil during my early professional years. I’d also like to thank my publisher, John Whalen, editor, Amanda Sobotka, and designers, Emily Sullivan and Shannon Johnson-Pynes, for their talent, care, and dedication in shaping this book. Working alongside such talented and dedicated professionals has been an honor. Special thanks to Woojung Lee, PhD, for reviewing the Korean text and helping ensure the cultural authenticity of the Korean places represented in this book. And to ARMY, it has been an honor to celebrate your passion, creativity, and community through these pages.
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