BEHIND HOPE
The beginning
Like anyone starting a new path, J-Hope’s journey wasn’t all that different.
Before his debut, Jung Hoseok (before he became J-Hope) already knew that
his dream was to become a dancer. He was part of a
dance team in his hometown of Gwangju called “Neuron.” He was well
known as a member of Neuron and recognized for being an exceptionally
talented dancer.
He also trained at the Gwangju Music Academy for six years, and
by then, Hoseok was already making a name for himself. His team
even won first place in a national dance competition in 2008, proving
his skills and competence as a dancer.
In 2010, Hoseok auditioned for BigHit without expecting much. To his surprise,
he passed and moved to Seoul alone, juggling intense training and his
academics—all while battling moments of doubt as a trainee.
The journey
When Hoseok was a trainee, he was asked by his company, BigHit,
what position he would take if he ever debuted in a group.
While he was a great dancer, being part of an idol group
also meant he needed to either sing or rap. Hoseok decided to
learn how to rap. Although he had no prior experience, he dedicated
himself to becoming a rapper for the group.
In June 2013, he debuted as BTS’s third rapper under the stage
name J-Hope. The “J” comes from the initial of his first name,
“Jung,” and “Hope” represents the hope he wanted to bring to fans
and to be BTS’s source of hope.
The rise
As a member of a K-pop idol group from a small company,
Hoseok, along with BTS, experienced many hardships and mistreatment in the industry.
At one point, Hoseok didn’t receive any fan calls during events while
the other members did.
As time passed, J-Hope made a name for himself internationally, even in
the Western music scene alongside the biggest artists in the world. He
charted on the Billboard Hot 100 with his solo song “Chicken Noodle
Soup” featuring Becky G. He also released his first mixtape, Hope World,
which gained global recognition, followed by his solo album Jack in the
Box, showcasing his unique style as a solo artist.
He became a headliner at Lollapalooza, with his stage being affectionately dubbed
“Hobipalooza” due to the massive crowd of ARMYs who came to see him perform.
The present
Now, in the year 2025, after completing his military service, J-Hope is
embarking on his first world tour as a solo artist. He announced
concert dates across the globe under the title “Hope on the Stage.”
In addition to his solo tour, J-Hope released three singles in collaboration
with Don Toliver and Miguel, all of which are included in the
concert setlist.
Tickets in every country sold out within minutes—proof of
just how influential J-Hope has become. J-Hope was once just a young
dancer from Gwangju who dreamed big. He went through many hardships, and
his journey was filled with ups and downs. Yet through it all,
he proved that he truly can be a source of hope for
people and a powerful inspiration to his fans.