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The Chicken or the Egg: Jikook Travel Show

This is my unhinged theory. It is just a theory. I state nothing as fact except the things that I actually listed that are facts. Enjoy!

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For those of you who really don’t want to read all of this, I will open at the close with a brief summary. I propose that there was never a chicken at all. It was always about the egg and only the egg. The chicken was just a clever ruse.

Thank you for reading. You may scroll on. Have a wonderful day💜

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Some of you appear to still be reading. Ok. For those of you are inexplicably still here, I will carry on with my convoluted theory of eggs and chicken (all this talk of food is making me hungry). I think I want some chicken and eggs.

So, let’s start shall we?

When I first started stanning BTS back in November of 2014, I immediately learned about this thing called mandatory military service. MY IRL who pulled me into ARMY life spoke about it often, almost as a warning to me of what I was getting into.

As an American, the concept of mandatory service was foreign to me because our draft in the United States has been dormant since Vietnam in the 70's. But as I learned more about the SK culture and the precarious “active war” situation that they were living in, I began to understand more about why the country deemed mandatory service necessary.

Even though I knew all of this, it still didn’t really register in my mind exactly what it would mean down the road. In my mind, it was sooooo far down the line, that I wondered if I would even still stan BTS by the time it happened. I had no idea that I was embarking on a life long journey that would change my life forever. My IRL friend who was Korean, warned me from day one. She told me to protect my heart and be ready for the day that they would eventually have to leave. She insisted it was a thing, a thing that could tear my heart out if I wasn’t ready. (Needless to say even with nine years warning, I still wasn’t ready when it actually happened)

But in addition to the warnings that she gave me about everything else, she also mentioned something casually in passing. I believe her exact words were - “Yeah and they probably won’t be able to tour much either in the 6-12 months before they serve because they are not allowed to leave the country just before they enlist.”

Pin that thought because it will be important later.

I accepted all of this back then, not fully understanding the impact it would have on me later.

Now let’s skip to later.

Jikook has always stood out to me as “careful” about revealing what REALLY goes on between them; except during the rare times when they just can’t help it. They willingly give us hints - some to garish to overlook. They give us enough to come to the conclusion that they have a relationship that is possibly romantic. But overall, they are careful not to share too much. It's not because they particularly care what we think, but because they are protective of the true nature of their relationship in general. There are things they show us and things they don’t. It all depends on their comfort level.

But it wasn’t until late December of 2024 that I realized just how truly stealthy and protective they really are. Forgive me for not remember the exact dates, but I believe it was late December 5th when we learned of their plan to enlist together.

And this is when we learned that despite months and months and months of planning, plotting, paperwork, interviews and work behind the scenes, they never gave the fandom a single clue about what they had planned for MS.

In fact, to the world at large, Jikook appeared to really embody the spirit of individuality of Chapter Two. We saw them with other friends, other members, in other cities, but never together. For us who were watching it all play out, it appeared as if Jikook barely saw each other, barely spoke and were living their "true lives" which did not involve always being together.

Think about it - they wouldn’t even do Tik Tok challenges together even though they did them with everyone else. Sometimes they would even tease us by doing the same challenge in the same building with different people. Think about it. It was so strange and Jikookers were giving them the bombastic side-eye because we knew something was off.

They kept their distance and really fooled some of us. Let’s be fair, both were busy with their own projects. Jimin truly was working. Jk was truly working. They were putting together incredible projects for us - both of which were some of the best music and performances of my lifetime.

Still, there was a perception in the universe that they were spending less time together and barely even talking. Jk spending his time begging JM to come and see him and even crying at some points and dressing up for white day - didn't help matters either.

But we soon learned that there was a much greater plan in play. As the saying goes, we were playing checkers, but they were playing chess. In my opinion, allowing the fandom to think that there was some sort of natural drift between Jikook as part of Chapter two was very intentional. However, Jikookers were never fooled. Even with what we saw in chapter two, most of us Jikookers knew they were in constant contact because our Spidey senses told us. We are in sync with them and we know how they move behind the scenes. We know their history. We understand their preference for each other.

But even the most dialed in Jikookers never saw the buddy enlistment coming. It shocked all of us, to the point where we spent days and days trying to verify if it was really possible. We were bamboozled because the truth of what was really going in the background was nothing we could have imagined.

Was the entire fandom victims of a con job? Yes. Yes we were.

This entire scheme was very well-played. Very well organized, very Jikook-ish and I applaud them. They protected their plan vehemently which probably aided in the success of the overall scheme. And I call it a scheme because it takes alot of work, forethought and planning to keep this kind of information away from ARMY. Given all of the leaks, even out of the military, the planning had to be coordinated from the very highest level. And I think we all know why they kept it a secret. It’s just further evidence that they know how toxic this fandom can be and how toxic fans (or even supportive fans) could have intervened and caused significant problems for them and their bid to enlist together. I mean GOD FORBID, members of other ships send protest trucks to military bases to keep them from enlisting together. In fact, someone can remind me in the comments, but didn’t another ship send emails directly to the military demanding that they not be allowed to serve together? Wasn't there even a formal complaint against them?

Well it didn't matter. Because by the time we found out, it was too late for anyone to sabotage their plan. Again I say WELL PLAYED JIKOOK! If this information had been leaked earlier, it could have easily affected their ability to get approved for this very competitive program. But these two were so skillful in the execution; so methodical and intentional which proves just how much they wanted this to happen. Its a sign of how desperately they wanted to be together. Hats off to Jikook.

But here is where I get back to the topic at hand - the egg and chicken situation. After all was said and done and Jikook learned that their bid for buddy enlistment had been approved, we started to see them act a little less “careful” didn’t we? After months and months and months of their keeping their distance and seemingly not spending any time together, we suddenly saw them together alot. I mean ALOT alot. It felt like a switch was flipped and the coast was finally clear for them to return to baseline. The mission was completed and there was nothing that fans could to do to change the outcome. So for the first time in a looooooong time, they made their interactions public because it was safe to do so.

[On a side note, my heart breaks when I think back to how much JK was missing JM and how many times he begged him to come over or got overly excited when he saw him in the comments. He single handedly held a three hour launch party for FACE. He's just such a sweet man and JM means so much to him. (In a later post, I will talk a little more about just how much JM also missed Jk during their time apart. But that will be in another post.) Jk's behavior during their down time was a reminder that these two are organically joined at the hip. Denying themselves the ability to be together was a great sacrifice within itself.]

I don’t have all of the receipts or the exact dates for when Jikook suddenly began their private travels, but I think you get the point. They were everywhere together.

They kicked off this season of togetherness in the BIGGEST way possible. Jimin showed up in NY for JKs debut. This was the start of Jk's solo career and he was so nervous.

And then out of the blue without any warning, Jimin showed up. Remember that picture of him stepping out of the van in NY with those sexy freshly waxed legs? My guy was ready for ANYTHING. Smooth and sexy.

Not only was Jimin there, he seemed to be very discreetly traveling to some of JKs venues with him. We learned later when Jk was absolutely ambushed by the interviewer, that JM was likely there with him on the GMA set. Jk pretended not to understand what she was asking even though he knew damn well she said Jimin’s name. He waited for the translator in order to buy him more time to think of his answer. Remember the infamous gesture towards the back stage when he answered the question about Jimin?

But YES, Jimin was possibly there on set with him, we can reasonably assume even though we don't know for sure. And once again the fandom was stunned. Out of nowhere, he showed up at the most important moment of Jks life. So many people tried to downplay it and say he was there for EVERYBODY. And he was there for as many of the members as he could be. But that doesn't mean his presence at Jk's premier wasn't special.

I would argue that Jimin's visit to NY with Jk was very special because of what happened next. Jimin didn't just go home.

There was constant garbage being spewed about how Jk was working and JM was there by coincidence because he was working too. Although we never got confirmation that JM was working at all. And we know for a fact that Jk had a few days off where he WAS NOT WORKING just before traveling to London. The answer to if they were working or not working matters. I will share later.

And guess what JM did? He stayed with Jk during his time off. We were stunned once again when we saw them leave NY and go on a private vacation, isolated away from everyone, including management per some of the reports. Jimin gave us the first official clue, but it was to be the last that came directly from them.

The first clue that they were alone together on vacation came quite accidentally. But it didn't stop there. For FOUR looooong days we had no idea where they were or what they were doing. It was a complete mystery and they once again went into stealth mode. The only reason we knew they traveled to Connecticut was because of more witnesses who barely knew who they were. We know staff was with them on the boat. But when they were seen in the convenience store and then in the bar, they appeared to be alone. (Not sure if we verified that, but going off of what I read at the time)

And look here, there is a low quality camera in JKs hand. Considering how much he likes to film and how talented he is, it seemed odd to me at the time that he would have such a mid-level camera instead of asking one of the staff members to bring his personal equipment. Strange right? Well, I have an answer for you - keep reading.

These two disappeared and not a soul knew where they were. Well played Jikook. Another successful game of chess while the rest of us are playing Go Fish.

But there was more. The next trip that also popped up as a surprise was the trip to Japan.

We know for sure that JK was working. So that checks the box. It was work. We saw one of the most intimate moments between the two of them that we've seen since 2018. And they were looking VERY VERY VERY coupley during that Japan trip. To the point where someone thought JM was JKs blond girlfriend. It was truly a jaw dropping moment. Where we even saw them matching again, like old times.

These pictures and the magnetic pull that you can SEE between them, plus the news that they were enlisting together but still traveling alone together WOKE UP THE WORLD!

In addition, by this time it was mostly undeniable that Jimin was NOT working on anything official. Yet we all kept hearing references to their "travel show". And the question kept popping up amongst Jikookers. why are they working so close to the time of their enlistment when they should be spending time with their families. Why is this "travel show" so important to them?

So now you're thinking, did this crazy bitch just put "travel show" in sarcastic quotes? Yes. Yes I did. Keep reading.

And then there was Sapporo, the most romantic getaway location that two couples can escape to in Japan. It was yet another seemingly romantic getaway with just the two of them where they COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED! We saw noting. Not a single sec of footage or photos from this trip. (other than the airport stuff) Once again, Jikookers gave the bombastic side-eye. Our lot can always tell when something is not quite right.

As someone who invests most of my time in thought equity, I thought alot about these sudden trips. We were constantly being told they were for work. It’s work. Nothing but work. "Travel show" this, and "travel show" that. We were told not to read anything into it other than work. And that’s when a conversation from 2015 popped right into my head. I asked myself the question - How is it that JM and Jk can travel all over the world when they have just a few weeks left before they have to report for service? Why are they allowed to leave the country at all? This question plagued me. I even tried to reach out to my friend who told me about this because I had to know. She had never thought about it either. From everything we both knew, soldiers who were about to enter the military could NOT leave the country at all, no exceptions.

Well in typical nerdy-as-fuck Dawnie fashion, I jumped head first into Korean military code of ethics and Military Manpower Administration to find answers. Which of course led me to the Enforcement decree of the Korean Military Service Act. What I found changed everything for me. It fundamentally shifted how I perceived the final weeks of Jikook travel patterns just prior to the enlistment.

Let’s get into it:

Please keep in mind that I am not an attorney. I am not a Korean citizen, nor military, nor anything that makes me an expert in this area. I am just reading and researching and drawing my own conclusions. I listed my references so that you can read and draw your own conclusions as well. The entire MMA code is there for you to study.

But the way that I interpreted this: Anyone between the ages of 25 - 27 who has NOT yet fulfilled their military service duty must receive an overseas Travel Permit. Contrary to what I was told back in 2015, members CAN INDEED travel overseas within 12 months of service. They just have to get permission. And that makes sense because we know that our guys have been all over the world. Article 145 and 146 are referenced below. This applies to all members because we know they all traveled and none of them at the time of this post had completed their military service.

BTS is not exempt. If they were, then they would be exempt from serving at all. They get the same treatment as everyone else, which means they had to get permits to travel.

The next thing I stumbled upon was HOW permission was granted. What were the circumstances under which they would be allowed to go to either Japan or United States? And this is where I broke out into feverish, uncontrollable Jikook giggles.

There was only ONE way that the members could qualify. Check out #7. THEY HAVE TO BE WORKING!

Ok, let's land this plane shall we?

I don’t know about you, but if I wanted a reason to travel on romantic vacations with my sexy boyfriend to other countries and spend quality time alone while showing off my freshly waxed legs, I could easily pull out a go-pro camera and say that I was “working”.

Are you following me? Are you picking up what I'm putting down? (My dad says that all the time and I never know what the hell he's talking about)

Now don’t crawl up my ass with your complaints, because this is just my theory.

For many of these trips JK was working. But JM WAS NOT. We've already established that he had no verifiable schedules. Sure he may have done a little something here and there, but nothing that matched up with the full timelines that he probably had to add to his travel permit. So how was he allowed to go? The only way he could be granted a travel permit so close to his enlistment is through a working assignment in the country to which he was traveling. Remember Jk said that the "travel show was not planned." It just kind of happened.

My theory is that it wasn’t planned because the travel show was just a chicken.

So Dawnie are you saying the travel show wasn’t really real? Yes, I am. The "travel show" was an event that was never really meant to happen. It became a convenient excuse to justify them being able to travel for a work trip. The chicken that was just a clever rouse to hide the real intent of this last minute travel.

But the egg is what actually came first. And what exactly was the egg? The egg was the very romantic travel between two members who wanted some freaking time alone. They needed to make up for lost time. They needed to say things that they hadn’t been able to say before. They wanted to relax in each other’s arms without the world peering in. They wanted their last moments of freedom to be with each other. Jk had repeatedly begged for JM and JM had repeatedly said no out of necessity. But do you really think there is a world where JM wouldn't give JK exactly everything he wanted? Especially given how miserable they both seemed to be without each other.

Ok so am I possibly over stating this? No, not really. I don't claim anything sexual happened or that they got married or any other such speculation. But I do claim that this egg - was indeed a very intimate trip based on whatever intimacy means to them. In fact all of the trips were, possibly even the one to Jeju island.

Why else would they spend this time alone at such a pivotal moment when they should have been with their families, pets, parents, friends? They needed this time together. And the wildest part is that they knew they were going to be together for 18 loooong months yet they had these very private days along anyway. We cannot compare the time they spent alone to the time they will spend by each other's sides in military service. We all know that they will have to adopt completely different personas and methods of interaction once inside the military. So the last few days alone before going in, allowed them to be themselves and interact organically. If you don’t believe me - take a look at just how CUDDLY they were after returning from Sapporo. It's that same post-vacation cuddly bliss that we saw right after GCFT. I mean just look at them!

HELP!

There is absolutely on reason to hold his hand! You didn't just meet. You don't need to introduce yourselves. HELP!

HIS FULL FACE IS IN JIMIN'S CROTCH and Jimin just allowed it. How comfortable do you have to be with someone to casually allow this and not flinch or wince or jump AND keep your hands behind your back like nothing is happening. Yet a few minutes ago they shook hands like they just met. Give me a full break LOL!!!

What in the hungry hungry hippo is going on here? This is soooooooo clingy. Keep in mind, at the time of this filming, these two presumably hadn't spent quality time with each for almost an entire year up until they were finally able to travel together. They missed each other alot and it shows.

I am going to link a full video for you down at the end, but watch at 0:34 JK is rubbing his back and they are staring at each other so hard that Namjoon has to break them up and bring them back to earth. Y'all WTF? I am flabbergasted by their post Japan behavior YET AGAIN! You cannot tell me that these two did not bond ever more on that trip. My point here is that these two were acting like they were about to separate for years and never see each other again. But in reality, they were off to the same damn place where they would be stuck together for 15 months. This is why I believe in the egg - not the chicken.

The "travel show" is real and I believe we will get it. However, I don't feel the need to see it like other Jikookers. The reason I am not super amped to see it is because I truly believe it was their egg, their private time. Sure there will be some fan friendly moments that they will have to show us to prove they were on "work" trips. But I think the truth of what those trips meant to them can be seen in their final goodbye above. The smiles, the chemistry, the stares, the reconnection that they so badly needed. That is the true purpose behind those trips and in a way, I wish they could always keep them private. The show within itself is not as it appears to be IMO. It really is just a thinly veiled cover up for two people who wanted some alone-time with each other without having to explain to the world why they needed it.

When it comes, I will watch it of course because I love these two with my entire heart. I will watch anything they share with me.

Again, these are only my theories. We won’t really know for sure what went on until we get the actual travel show. But again, JK already told us it was a mess and it was unplanned. And that is because it was just a chicken. Now I shall close where I opened. The age old question of which came first, the chicken or the egg? The egg of course. The love that these two share, the companionship, the preference for each other, the willingness to sacrifice for each other is the egg. It has always been the egg and it has always come first no matter what. Everything else we see is a life spawned from the fertile core of their bond. I've always been a feverish delusional Jikooker, but these days my thoughts are grounded I the reality of what I see right in front of me. These two chose to be together during one of the most volatile times in our global. history. They chose the front lines just so they could be together. They sacrificed everything just so they could be together. They will forever be linked by their decision to serve together. I am not even sure any other Idols have ever done this. I tried to find some, but I couldn't. SO they may very well be the FIRST to ever do this. They set history together. They made sure that forever their names are spoken together.

Lastly, I leave you with this. How long have they been planning this? I suspect it was a very long time. My very last theory is this.

What if they were the only two names in the magic shop?