Before their debut, K-pop sensation BTS underwent several member changes. Among the earliest lineup was a highly anticipated rapper who ultimately did not debut with the group: Korean rapper Iron (born Jung Heon-cheol, 정헌철).
Iron was not only a significant pre-debut member of BTS but later gained fame through a rap survival show. However, his life took a sharp turn after his rise to popularity, as he became embroiled in multiple legal disputes, ultimately passing away in 2021, leaving behind a controversial and regrettable legacy.
In 2010, BTS began preparations for their formation. At the time, producer Bang Si-hyuk (방시혁) aimed to create a hip-hop group centered around RM. As RM already had a reputation in the underground rap scene, he became one of the first trainees to join the company.
Shortly after, Iron also joined the company, becoming one of the initially revealed members. The group's name was not yet finalized, going by "B.P.B (Bullet Proof Boys)," and they released works such as "We Are B.P.B," which is considered the precursor to the later "We Are Bulletproof" series of songs.
However, in January 2011, the pre-debut lineup of BTS changed again, and Iron chose to leave the company, thus not becoming a final debut member. Despite his departure, he maintained collaborative relationships with RM and others, actively participating in the hip-hop crew DaeNamHyup (대남협), which also included members like Kidoh and Supreme Boi. (RM, who went by the stage name "Runch Randa" before debut, also joined DaeNamHyup and was called the "Golden Maknae" by the members.)
After leaving the BTS pre-debut lineup, Iron continued to develop his career in the underground hip-hop scene until 2014, when he reached the peak of his career by participating in the rap survival show *Show Me The Money 3*. He advanced all the way to the finals, ultimately securing second place, and his popularity skyrocketed.
After the show aired, many of Iron's released songs climbed the music charts. His song "Malice" reached No. 2 on the Gaon Music Chart, and "Puss," a collaboration with former AOA member Shin Ji-min (신지민), topped the charts.
Additionally, his featured appearance on Jonghyun's song "Crazy" also achieved impressive results, and he was once considered one of the most anticipated rising stars in the Korean rap scene.
However, just as his career was taking off, Iron became embroiled in a series of negative incidents. In September 2016, he released his first solo album, *Rock Bottom*, but in the same year, he was sentenced by the court for marijuana use and received a suspended sentence.
That same year, he was accused of assault by his ex-girlfriend. She stated that during their relationship, Iron had hit her face during sex, causing a fracture, and when she tried to break up with him, he attacked her by choking her. The ex-girlfriend also alleged that Iron had self-harmed with a kitchen knife and threatened to blame her for the injuries. After the incident came to light, police briefly detained Iron for investigation.
As the case proceeded through the legal system, both sides engaged in a fierce legal battle. During this time, Iron even publicly revealed his ex-girlfriend's identity and claimed she had a tendency to be abused, sparking further controversy. Ultimately, in 2018, the court sentenced Iron to 8 months in prison, suspended for 2 years, and 80 hours of community service.
However, the troubles did not end there. In 2020, Iron was arrested again by the police. He was accused of assaulting an 18-year-old male roommate, who was living with him to study music. According to the allegations, Iron repeatedly beat the victim with a baseball bat, causing public outrage.
Before the trial for this case was completed, on January 21, 2021, Iron was found unconscious and covered in blood in a flowerbed in his residential complex. Despite being rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment, he was ultimately pronounced dead at the age of 29. His funeral was held on January 28 of the same year, marking the end of the life of a rapper who was once highly regarded but fell to rock bottom due to a series of controversial incidents.
From a pre-debut member of BTS and a *Show Me The Money* runner-up to a chart-topping singer, and then to a series of drug and violence cases, Iron's life was full of dramatic twists, becoming a poignant story in the Korean entertainment industry.
