“I didn’t want to become a rapper, I wanted to become a composer. That’s why I joined the agency,” Suga told the television programme Rookie King Channel BTS in 2013.

On why he ended up signing with Big Hit Entertainment, the BTS rapper joked about how the agency’s founder and co-CEO Bang Si-hyuk “tricked” him. “He told me I’d be in a [hip-hop] group like 1TYM. He said I wouldn’t have to dance, only groove a little. He said all I’d have to do is focus on rapping,” Suga said. “I actually wanted to be 1TYM!”

Alongside his emotionally-charged rap lyrics, Suga is known for producing and composing many of his own songs.

In 2016, he released a self-produced, 10-track mixtape called “Agust D”, referencing the stage name he used before becoming Suga of BTS. Agust D is an anagram that combines his BTS name, where D is a reference to his hometown, Daegu. In his Spotify bio, his works as Agust D are described as “unimpeded, rough-cut and powerful”.

In a 2017 Elle interview, Suga said that he has been writing rhymes and lyrics since childhood. These lines usually reveal his thoughts and emotions, and eventually find their way into his songs. “All the songs I've written, they made me a better person and helped me grow up,” he said.

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Reflecting on the group’s international popularity, especially in the US, Suga maintained that the band’s global status hasn’t changed his songwriting style, and he doesn’t allow himself to be influenced by how popular or successful they’ve become.

He sees his songs as a tool that others can hopefully encourage and inspire others. “I want people to get positive energy from our music. Life is tough, and things don't always work out well, but we should be brave and go on with our lives,” he told Elle.

2. When it comes to clothes, he prefers being comfortable

“Fashion and music are inseparable,” Suga told Billboard. “Music is not just about listening any more. I think visuals are very important,” he pointed out, recognising the role fashion plays in stage performances.

When he has no schedule, Suga prefers keeping it simple, and picks out whichever is comfortable and easy to wear, such as oversized clothes or slippers.

Despite his toned down, off-duty looks, Suga likes to keep his outfits interesting with accessories. He said in a Vogue interview that he is fond of bracelets and rings, especially king rings. “The really big ones, I’ll wear a lot of them at once,” he said.

3. His personality type is INFP

A Soompi list reveals Suga’s Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to be introvert-intuitive-feeler-perceiver (INFP). Such types are described as “poetic, kind and altruistic, and always eager to help a good cause”. According to the list, Suga shares the same MBTI as bandmates RM and Jungkook, as well as Tablo and Tukutz from Epik High, the alternative hip-hop band that Suga cites as one of his main musical influences.

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Suga told the South China Morning Post that he recalled hearing Epik High perform their song Fly, which inspired his early hip-hop inclinations. Before joining BTS, Suga used to be part of an underground rap outfit in his hometown Daegu. They called themselves D-Town or Daegu-Town, and Suga went by the stage name Gloss.

4. Suga loves basketball 

The K-pop Herald reported that Suga often played basketball as a student, and continued to practise regularly as a trainee. His stage name Suga, uses its first two syllables from his position in basketball, which is shooting guard.

With his height at 1.75 metres (five foot seven inches), Suga hoped to grow over 1.8 metres, however, he fell off his motorcycle while working as a delivery boy and passed out. This left him with an injured shoulder, which restricted activities such as basketball.

The K-pop Herald also revealed that he has learned to play the piano on his own, and has studied photography.

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5. There’s a reason he doesn’t have a tattoo

A 2016 interview with Grazia disclosed the reason Suga has never got a tattoo. “There is something that I want to do in the future. I want to do some charity work, but tattoos could be seen negatively, so I am holding myself back,” he said.

The BTS rapper eventually plans to have a small dot tattooed on his toe, so that nobody can see it.

Known as the most outspoken member of the group, Suga has brought awareness to current issues, and has been applauded for speaking out about depression and mental health. He recently made a generous donation to the fight against the coronavirus, moving many fans to do the same.

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