Jung Hoseok aka j-hope of BTS, an Introduction

Jung Ho-seok, known professionally as j-hope, was born on February 18, 1994, in South Korea. He is a rapper, singer-songwriter, dancer, and record producer who rose to fame as a member of the South Korean boy band BTS, debuting under Big Hit Entertainment in 2013. His stage name, j-hope, comes from his desire to represent hope for fans, as well as to be "the hope of BTS". It is also a reference to the myth of Pandora's box, as after the box was opened and all the evils inside were released to the world, the only thing left was hope.

Before joining BTS, j-hope, then known as Jung Ho-seok, was deeply involved in dance. He was a member of an underground dance team called Neuron and honed his skills through dance classes at Gwangju Music Academy for six years, starting from fourth grade until his first year of high school. His talent in dance earned him recognition, including winning first place in a national dance competition in 2008. 

In 2018, j-hope ventured into solo territory with the release of his first mixtape, "Hope World." The project garnered positive reviews from critics and achieved notable success, peaking at number 38 on the US Billboard 200. Notably, "Hope World" became the highest-charting album by a Korean solo artist at the time. In 2019, J-Hope dropped a collaborative single, "Chicken Noodle Soup", featuring American singer Becky G, on September 27. The song made waves by debuting at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking J-Hope's solo entry onto the chart and solidifying his position as the first BTS member to achieve this feat. He became the third Korean solo artist to grace the Hot 100, following in the footsteps of Psy and CL, and the sixth Korean artist overall to accomplish this milestone. Additionally, "Chicken Noodle Soup" soared to the top of the World Digital Song Sales chart, marking J-Hope's second track to achieve this feat.

In 2022, j-hope expanded his solo discography with the release of his debut studio album, "Jack in the Box," marking another milestone in his career. Continuing his musical journey, he collaborated with renowned artist J. Cole on the single "On the Street," released in 2023. j-hope's multifaceted talents and dynamic presence have cemented his status as a versatile artist in the music industry, captivating audiences worldwide with his distinctive style and infectious energy. 

j-hope has been a member of the "Green Noble Club," recognizing high-value donors of Child Fund Korea, since 2018. He has made several significant donations to the organization, including ₩100 million in February 2019 to support students at his high school alma mater in Gwangju, ₩150 million in December 2018 (kept private at the time), another ₩100 million in December 2019, and ₩100 million in November 2020 to aid children facing economic difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

j-hope donated ₩150 million in February 2021 to support children with visual and hearing impairments and ₩100 million on Children's Day in May 2021 for children affected by violence in Tanzania, Africa. In December, he donated another ₩100 million to cover heating expenses for children in low-income families, childcare facilities, and medical expenses for pediatric patients. J-Hope's cumulative donations to Child Fund Korea since 2018 amount to ₩800 million.

j-hope's passion for dance eventually sparked an interest in singing, leading him to pursue a career as an idol trainee. During his trainee days, he showcased his versatility by featuring as a rapper on singer Jo Kwon's song "Animal," which was released in 2012. This experience marked his first foray into the music industry, laying the groundwork for his future as a member of BTS. In January 2020, J-Hope was promoted to a full member of the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA)

On June 14, 2022, Hybe Corporation made a groundbreaking announcement: j-hope would be the first member of BTS to embark on solo promotions. This marked a significant moment in his career, culminating in the release of his debut solo album, "Jack in the Box," on July 15. Preceding the album, the lead single "More" dropped on July 1, building anticipation among fans worldwide.

j-hope's solo journey reached new heights when he made his performance debut at Lollapalooza on July 31. As the headlining act for the festival's final day, he achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first South Korean artist to headline a main stage at a major United States music festival. The electrifying performance solidified his status as a global superstar.

In September 2022, j-hope showcased his versatility by featuring on the single "Rush Hour" by Crush. His remarkable achievements were further recognized when he received six nominations, including Artist of the Year and Song of the Year, at the MAMA Awards. Taking center stage as the headliner for day two of the event on November 30, he captivated audiences with his solo performance debut.

Closing out the year with a bang, j-hope made his solo performance debut at Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve on December 31, captivating audiences worldwide with his dynamic stage presence and infectious energy. In February 2023, fans were treated to the documentary "J-Hope in the Box," chronicling the making of his debut album and his monumental appearance at Lollapalooza. Simultaneously, he was announced as a brand ambassador for Louis Vuitton, further solidifying his influence in the fashion world.

j-hope continued to break barriers with the release of the collaboration single "On the Street" with American rapper J. Cole on March 3. The song debuted at number 37 on the UK Singles Chart, making j-hope the highest-charting Korean soloist in the history of the chart at the time. Additionally, he achieved his highest peak on the US Hot 100 at number 60. 

In February 2023, a documentary titled "J-Hope in the Box" was released for global streaming on Weverse and Disney+, offering viewers an inside look into the creation of j-hope's debut album and his performance at Lollapalooza. Around the same time, he was appointed as a brand ambassador for Louis Vuitton, marking a significant achievement in his career. Following this, j-hope dropped the collaboration single "On the Street", featuring American rapper J. Cole, on March 3.

The song debuted at number 37 on the UK Singles Chart, making j-hope the first BTS member to secure a top-40 entry on the chart and setting a new record as the highest-charting Korean soloist in the history of the chart up to that point. Additionally, "On the Street" reached its highest peak on the US Hot 100 at number 60, further solidifying j-hope's growing success on the global music scene.

In March 2024, Big Hit released a six-part docuseries titled "Hope on the Street," accompanied by the special album "Hope on the Street Vol. 1." These projects delved into j-hope's artistic roots and street dance background, showcasing his evolution as an artist. The first episode aired globally on March 27, followed by the album release on March 29, featuring "Neuron" as its lead single, which included collaborations with Gaeko and Yoon Mi-rae.

j-hope made history at Lollapalooza when he became the first ever Asian artist to headline the American festival. Not only that but, Sundays at lollapalooza are typically the days with the fewest attendees, but because of j-hope and his impact, things have changed. He even became the Highest Ticket-Selling Artist In Lollapalooza HISTORY! In response to the 2022 South Korean floods in Seoul, j-hope donated ₩100 million through the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association to assist those affected. Then, in February 2023, he donated ₩100 million through the Korean UNICEF Committee to provide emergency relief for children affected by the Turkey–Syria earthquake.

In December 2020, revisions to the Military Service Act granted j-hope an automatic postponement of his mandatory military service until the end of 2022. However, on February 26, 2023, Big Hit announced that j-hope had requested the cancellation of his deferment and would proceed with his conscription. Subsequently, on April 1, the label officially announced j-hope's impending enlistment, although the specific date was not disclosed to the public. He entered military service as an active duty soldier on April 18 at the Army A Division Recruit Training Center in Gangwon Province. Following the completion of his basic training in May 2023, j-hope was appointed as an assistant training instructor with the 36th Infantry Division in Wonju.