Jung Kook at the Jung Kook surprise concert at TSX Stage in Times Square on November 9, 2023 in New York, NY. Daniel Zuchnik for Billboard
Jung Kook is reflecting on failed love in the somber music video for his ballad “Hate You.”
The minimalistic new clip, which dropped on Saturday (Dec. 9), opens with black-and-white shots of the BTS superstar sitting by himself on a bed and overlooking a brightly lit cityscape while solemnly singing about the scars of a past relationship. The video later shifts to color and features an animated snippet of two lovers running through a snowy forest.
“Audiences are taken on a transformative journey alongside the artist as the video unfolds, shifting from a melancholic black and white ambiance to a burst of colors with the vibrant hues breathing life into the visuals,” Big Hit and HYBE wrote in a press release about the video.
“Hate You,” co-written with Shawn Mendes, appears on the K-pop singer’s first solo album, Golden. The set debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in November.
“‘Hate You’ is a pop ballad track that evokes a deep surge of emotions with a simple blend of lofi piano and Jung Kook’s vocals,” the news release continues. “It portrays the heartbreaking moment of forcing oneself to hate one’s innocent beloved as the love one feels is too much to bear.”
The vulnerable “Hate You” videos follows Golden remixes of “3D” (with Justin Timberlake) and “Standing Next to You” (with Usher).
The fresh releases arrive as Jung Kook prepares to enlist in the South Korean military. In late November, he took to Weverse to share a sweet message with ARMY.
“In December, I will start a new journey I’m leaving you for a while to serve in the military,” he wrote. “As I share this news, I feel heavy on one hand, and on the other hand, I’m reminded of precious memories with ARMY, so my heart warms up. Every moment I’ve spent with you has been the brightest time of my life. ARMY’s laughter, support, and love led me to this point. Thank you so much for supporting my dream and walking with me silently.”
South Korean requires an 18-month military service stint for all able-bodied men by the time they turn 28. BTS announced a pause in their group work in October 2022 to allow all the singers to enlist. The group is expected to reconvene in 2025 when all have completed their duty to country.
Watch Jung Kook’s “Hate You” video below.
