From Topping Charts To Multiple Arrests: The Life And Death Of A Pre-Debut BTS Member

In 2010, BTS began forming, with Bang Si Hyuk aiming to build a group around RM, who was well-known in the underground rap scene. After RM joined the company, another rapper, Jung Hun Cheol, joined as well and were the first to be introduced.

(L to R) J-Lim, BTS’s RM, and Jung Hun Cheol | BIGHIT

The line-up took on a more solid formation with more trainees joining, which was then known as B.P.B (Bullet Proof Boys) and released a few tracks, including “We Are B.P.B,” a version of “We Are Bulletproof, Pt 1.”

By January 2011, a pre-debut line-up change had happened, with Jung Hun Cheol, known as Iron, leaving the company, though he remained a part of the crew DaeNamHyup alongside other rappers, including RM, Topp Dogg’s Kidoh, and Supreme Boi.

Iron later gained recognition for his appearance on Show Me The Money 3, coming in second.

Iron’s SMTM releases ranked high on the charts, including hitting Malice hitting number 2 on Gaon’s music chart. His track with former AOA’s Shin Jimin, “Puss,” hit number 1 on the same chart, while a track he featured on, SHINee Jonghyun‘s “Crazy,” also ranked high.

In 2016, Iron released his first album Rock Bottom in September 2016, and had his first legal incident when he was convicted of smoking marijuana and given a suspended sentence.

| Melon

The same year, Iron was accused of assault by an ex-girlfriend who claimed he hit her in the face during sex and caused fractures, strangled her when she attempted to end the relationship, and injuring himself with a kitchen knife and threatening to blame it on her. He was detained by the police at this time.

After a messy legal battle, which included Iron exposing her identity and claiming she was a masochist, he was sentenced to 8 months suspended for two years and 80 hours of community service in 2018.

In 2020, Iron was arrested again, this time for allegedly assaulting his 18-year-old male roommate, who was living with him to learn about music, by hitting him multiple times with a baseball bat.

Ultimately, no sentence was given for these allegations as on January 21, 2021, Iron was found bleeding in a flowerbed of his apartment complex. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Iron was pronounced dead on arrival.

His funeral was held on January 28, 2021 and marked the end of a talented, but troubled musician’s career.