This list contains all of the research I did over the last year and a half while writing the Answer Me series, a TaeJin-centric, canon compliant story for BTS. http://archiveofourown.org/series/736848 While this is a document containing hard research, a lot of it is anecdotal, observational, partly conjecture, and based on multiples sources. Please message me if you have clarifications or questions! Here is my tumblr: https://save-me-my-seoul.tumblr.com/

Also, this list is a work in progress. I will continue to add to it and make corrections as I learn/find new information.

• Reference website with lots of bio information:

http://listography.com/soymilk03/faq/related_to_bangtan

• BTS Diary with the full schedule:

https://btsdiary.com/about/schedule/old-schedule-2014-2015/

• BTS Videography

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BTS_videography

TAEJIN Timeline

2010

• BTS formed as early as 2010, with the first three members: Namjoon, Yoongi, and Hoseok. Bang Sihyuk has said that he formed BTS around Namjoon.
• Seokjin was scouted on the first day of college. He joined, and a couple of days later, Jungkook signed on (at 14). Apparently, they signed their contracts on the same day, and there's some contention between Seokjin and Jungkook about who signed first. Taehyung joined shortly after, but was kept as a secret member until debut. Jimin was the last to join the lineup. They have all lived together since 2012.
• December 2012, they released the Typical Trainees Christmas song. They all complain about working too much, living in close quarters, not being able to date (Namjoon's the only one who complains).

PRE-DEBUT TO 2013

• This is when BTS formed and began training in the idol program. At this point, Namjoon, Yoongi, and Hoseok have already known each other for a while as amateur rappers. They form the rap line and Bang SiHyuk holds auditions to place the other members.
• Seokjin was scouted on the street because of his good looks. Jungkook auditioned privately and was picked up, after being scouted by several agencies. Jungkook chose BigHit because he wanted to work with Namjoon. Taehyung attended an audition with a friend and tried out, managing to secure a place in the group as well. Jimin was the last to join the group when he attended a private audition at his school in Busan.
• Before the other members joined, though, Jin met with Namjoon for coffee. Namjoon laid out his plans – his vision – for Bangtan and asked if Jin was serious about joining. Namjoon already knew where Yoongi and Hoseok stood, but Jin, who would be the hyung, was crucial as the visual of the group. It would be a lot of work, but Namjoon was certain it would be worth it. In the end, Jin made a promise to Namjoon that he would join and work toward the common vision of BTS.
• The trainees all moved into a dorm-style flat in Seoul. In the beginning, there were 9 to 11 members living in the dorm. They began rigorous dance and vocal training. They devoted their time and energy to learning how to work together to create music and become an idol group.
• The BTS line-up we know now debuted in June 2013 with 2Cool4Skool. In September of that same year, they released a mini-album titled O!RUL82. In early 2014, they completed the trilogy with Skool Luv Affair.

JANUARY 2013

• January 7: Rap Monster's Log https://youtu.be/xoWTjHPmDXo (translation published September 6, 2017) >>Rap Monster at this time seems very different from Namjoon. He films with his sunglasses on. He has a different manner of speaking. It's very interesting to watch these earlier logs compared to Namjoon's more recent videos. Talks about having a conversation with Bang PD and knowing now that some things will become certain. He says he went home and thought a lot about it before going to sleep. He talks about how he believes in himself. He admits he has become conceited, that he disagrees with Bang PD, who told him he would not be as good as those who continued in the underground rap scene. “They say that life is what you make of it, but I will not live it recklessly. I just really want to make this year, my year.”
• January 15: https://youtu.be/BFmnWLOXhbg Jin's Log. He talks about cooking for the house sometimes. Decides he should just cook for himself, and he mentions how the thought of cooking for his future wife makes him happy.
• January 24: Jin's Log. ~130124 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFVlCkZ25Tc Jin looks very tired. He talks about the cold of the season. He says that Jimin was introduced as a member on this day. He says his hands and feet have been getting cold, and that he “started eating vegetables and other things that are good for me again.” (Jin admits later on a cooking show with Hoseok that he went for a year only eating chicken breast. Here is a link to that cooking show, though it's not the complete broadcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUKI4PAv5uk). He says that because his family isn't around to take care of him, he has to take care of himself.

~Video translation released September 3, 2017

• January 25: Jimin's first solo log. He says he came to film right after lessons. Talks about the launch of BTS' Twitter and blog for the group.
• January 29: Rap Monster's Log. He is again in “Rap Monster Mode.” He talks about how long it's been since his last log. He talks about taking out his dreadlocks. He says he has mixed feelings, but that it feels good to have them out.
• February 8: Jimin's Log. https://youtu.be/LzHJIdZSWaI He is filming alone. Talks about Jungkook's graduation from middle school. Jin, Suga, and Jimin attended (Taehyung mentions in the July 10th log https://youtu.be/lNGS0zKfIFw that he was there, but at this time he was the “secret” member, so there was no mention of him). Jimin says that their maknae is very popular, then, all smiles, says, “Ah, to be surrounded by women...”
• February 14 (Published on August 23, 2016.) Jimin and Jungkook film together. Valentine's Day. Jungkook received more chocolate hearts that Jimin, so he says that he won. They keep looking at each other and laughing. Jimin says he got one from a female staff, and anyway, they are on a diet. Jimin does most of the talking; Jungkook watches him. Jimin says he is losing weight and looking to Jin for inspiration. Jungkook says that Jin is definitely good at taking care of his own body. Jimin says he has a “chubby-cute” face because he is a pig. Jimin says he anticipates that he will become handsome if he can lose weight.
• February 14: J-Hope's first log. https://youtu.be/Y-9ldLEPz9s Aw, my first bias. Look at him. He talks about his goals. He wishes everyone a Happy Valentine's Day.
• February 2013 [Namjoon graduates from high school]
• February 17: Suga's first log, feat. Rap Mon, who harasses him mercilessly. https://youtu.be/qkA10BHNHvs Suga talks about working on songs for the debut. Rap Mon raps in the background.
• February 24: Jungkook and Jimin film together.https://youtu.be/0ZOlgL7zT8s
• February 25: Jimin films alone, but admits that Jungkook was going to film with him, but he was busy. https://youtu.be/zuWtucJzhIM Jimin talks about catching up with a friend from Busan. He says he misses his friends and wishes that he could have talked with them more before leaving. He says he misses his parents, too, and gets a little choked up. Then he says he will bury his feelings of longing and go back to work. He's 18, maybe??
• February 25: Rap Mon, feat. Suga. https://youtu.be/ejqCtOgcQzg While Rap Mon is talking about fashion, Suga bursts in playing the Imperial Death March on guitar. He does his best to rattle Rap Mon, but he just keeps on talking. Meanwhile, Suga is having a hell of a good time.
• March 5: Suga https://youtu.be/uv2LFJANgaI He quietly records, mentioning that it will be a peaceful log without Rap Mon.
• Four days later, Suga records for his birthday. https://youtu.be/ugDJ-dufutc He gets surprised with a cake and singing from Rap Mon, Hoseok, and Jimin. Hoseok punches him in the arm, and Suga's like, “Hey, stop that.” Meanwhile, RM complains that the background music isn't loud enough. (Where are Jin and Taehyung?)
• March 21: Suga. https://youtu.be/Y_yJOatKilM He says it is his third spring in Seoul. He admits that he's struggling. He misses his parents.

“You struggle when you're young, even if you have to pay for it.” This is an idiom that means you can't have too many struggles when you're young because it leads to wisdom and knowledge in the future. He looks like he's about to cry. He says he'll struggle when he's young and then live with his family in Seoul when he's older. (Mentioned in Answer Me:http://archiveofourown.org/works/10165388/chapters/22955958) ~Note: As of August 2017, Yoongi's parents are moving or have moved to Seoul.

• March 25: Jimin's log. https://youtu.be/3ycHVjaTJMw Jimin spilling tea on the members. He says Rap Mon is a good leader but full of mischief. He talks about how interesting and cheeky Suga is. He describes Jungkook as cute and bewildered. Seriously, you can already see he's got a crush on JK. He talks about how he's jealous of Jin sometimes because he's so handsome. He calls J-Hope the Mom of the group. No mention of Taehyung, though.
• April 6: Jimin again. https://youtu.be/dvrNSoJwbJg Jimin says that the hyungs are looking tired. He wants to cheer them up. Jimin loves being in front of the camera.
• April 10: Suga's Log. https://youtu.be/QrHjnaIc60U Suga says he is knee-deep working on their title song. It's taken a week, and he's reached the end of his patience. He has no choice but to go to sleep in the morning, so he's working all night.
• April 11: J-Hope's Log. https://youtu.be/zs__YRNzGkQ Reality is slowly coming closer. Speaking of debut. Mentions being on a diet (but seriously, he looks so thin). He practices facial expressions for the jacket photos they're doing the next week. He says that it was a “cringey time.”
• April 30: Suga's Log. https://youtu.be/EUtOww21bRo Suga records their daily schedule. Every day from 1 to 8, they dance. Afterward, they record songs, but they just finished the last song.
• May 2: J-Hope. https://youtu.be/fmpLJlmt6Dw 3:20 a.m. He talks about having worked all day, and how he can't sleep. Working on another song after finishing title song. He says that he dances for 8 hours and then goes straight into recording. “Day after day, this pattern follows so I started losing track of time.” “I'm so tired, please give me strength.” “Fighting.”
• May 3: Namjoon (Not Rap Monster). https://youtu.be/SRaXIjfD4CA He logs about the power of words, and how he's been criticized lately by people in the industry. Busy with recording, choreography, jacket shooting, and now they only have the MV to shoot before they'll be ready for debut.

Although he knows he'll receive much criticism in the future, he says, “I am this kind of person. I'm at least a 1000 times better person than you think me to be.”

~ They are about a month away from debut at this point.

• May 8: J-Hope and Jungkook. https://youtu.be/GWm9FcFODhY Hobi is wearing a Comme des Fuckdown shirt. Hobi's knee is injured. They are exhausted, so it's just a check-in. They mention filming in their costumes today, and how 'untidy' it was.
• May 14: Suga and Jimin. https://youtu.be/5Udtqp7-Xn8 It's Tuesday morning, they've just come from dancing (that early). They're getting ready to shoot their MV over the weekend, and at this point, they don't even know where they are going. The masters of the songs are all done, and a couple were released already. Suga admits he's listened to a few, not all.

~ Still no Taehyung at all in these logs...

• May 14: Jungkook and Rap Mon. https://youtu.be/2ywP_Ncamsc After the video shoot (?). JK has a dance break, and kept messing up on a part. RM mentioned how stressed they were. “The end of our long trainee life.” >>This may be one of the times Jungkook later mentions about a staff being very forceful with him.
• May 17: https://youtu.be/eeGuCiYWnsM Still no V. Where is Taehyung? This log has the other six members. They had breakfast at the studio, so they gathered to do a log. They all mention being sore and tired. They read off support messages from fans. Suga says that this will be the last log until after debut.

Okay, here we go.

• June 13, 2013 – Debut. 2Cool4Skool
• June 16: Jin and Taehyung. https://youtu.be/7CLjhDRdGlw After debut. So V has been there all along, but this is his first log?? Anyway, these two are very cute. Jin says he almost cried during their first broadcast, but didn't... because he's the oldest. V says he cried one tear. One, because he is dongseng (young friend). Jin seems... amused and goes, 'ahem, well, then...' before they pass the broadcast off to Jungkook and Rap Mon. It makes me think I've missed something, an inside joke, maybe, the way Jin responds to that... like he's surprised Taehyung says it?

There is something about the way V always stares at Jin. He watches him so intently. I have noticed that V tends to look at Jimin this way as well, but it's more playful.

Jungkook is so soft-spoken in the presence of RM.

They then trade off to Hobi and Jimin. And Yoongi.

Then all of them come back in. Taehyung has bubbles. They all give a greeting, say I love you to the fans and sign off.

• June 18: Suga's log. https://youtu.be/us4hhqk07t0 They just did their first radio broadcast. They recorded together. He talks about how different his voice sounds speaking vs rapping. He says he thinks he'd someday like to be the permanent DJ on a radio show.
• June 19: Jimin and V. https://youtu.be/A-dSzEabV0c 95 line. V says he's nervous to be filming, but he's glad it's with his best friend. He's doing this weird thing with his face, making a bracket around his chin with his forefinger and thumb. He's wearing a scarf over his head. He holds that scarf on his head the whole time.
• June 20: Jimin and Jungkook, all smiles and laughter. https://youtu.be/bA2UPoXvfQo In the previous broadcast, V and Jimin try to do a handshake, and miss on the first time. Jimin and Jungkook hit it on the first. And then they make the same sounds at the same time? Very in-synch. Jungkook suggests that they reveal the secret to their choreography: Jimin's abs.
• June 21: Namjoon. https://youtu.be/8aGA0xKMjKc Actually, RM. Very different, the two sides of Namjoon. Even his voice changes. He's wearing a shirt with a classic painting on it.
• June 28: Jin's log. https://youtu.be/ip6CN0rrHkg He's talking about their first ever fansigning. He says he's very excited because more people came than was expected. He says that fans were yelling, “Look here, Jin,” and “Look here, V.” Jin makes himself laugh.
• July 2: Rap Monster, logging from a different location. https://youtu.be/H9Wevqtje9E They had a news agency day – press conferences with five different news agencies. He says that they were working on new songs in the car between places. “I'm happy all around that we're no longer staying at home all day, just hanging out and listening to music with nothing to do like we did during our trainee days.”

~ “But I wonder if it'd be another way to live peacefully if you just let go and, if you've accomplished something to enjoy a little now and savor those moments. It's great to be ambitious and aim for more and more to be happy in the future, as I've lived up until now, but I think it's one of the nicest ways to live life if you know how to enjoy what is in the present.”

I love Namjoon, so much.