J-Hope (BTS)

Who is J-Hope (BTS)?
Jung Ho-seok (Korean: 정호석), known professionally as J-Hope (stylized in lower case), is a South Korean rapper, singer-songwriter, dancer, and record producer. He made his debut as a member of South Korean boy band BTS in 2013, under Big Hit Entertainment.
J-Hope released his first solo mixtape, Hope World, in 2018. It was received positively by critics and peaked at number 38 on the US Billboard 200, the highest-charting album by a Korean solo artist at the time. He became the first member of BTS to enter the Billboard Hot 100 as a soloist in 2019, when his single “Chicken Noodle Soup”, featuring singer Becky G, debuted at number 81. In 2022, J-Hope released his debut studio album Jack in the Box. In 2023, he released his single “On the Street” with J. Cole.
Quick Details
Stage Name | J-Hope (제이홉) |
Full Name | Jung Ho Seok (정호석); 鄭號錫 (Hanja) |
Also known as | Jeong Ho-seok; Chŏng Hosŏk; Jeihop; Cheihop |
Date of Birth | February 18, 1994 |
Birth Place | Buk District, Gwangju, South Korea |
Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
Gender | Male |
Birthday | February 18 |
Age | 30 |
Height | 177 cm (5’10”) |
Weight | 65 kg (143 lbs) |
Education | Gwangju Global High School; Global Cyber University |
Hobbies | Listening to music and window shopping |
Profession | Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Dancer, Record producer |
Years active | 2012–present |
Genres | Hip hop, K-pop |
Member of | BTS (방탄소년단) |
Labels | Big Hit |
Honours | Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit (2018) |
Social media links |
Early Life & Education
J-Hope was born Jung Ho-seok on February 18, 1994, in Gwangju, South Korea, where he lived with his parents and older sister, Jung Ji-woo.
In March 2019, J-Hope enrolled at Hanyang Cyber University for the Master of Business Administration program in Advertising and Media. He previously graduated from Global Cyber University with a degree in Broadcasting and Entertainment.
Career
Before debuting with BTS, J-Hope was part of an underground dance team called Neuron, and took dance classes at Gwangju Music Academy for six years, from fourth grade to his first year in high school when he signed with Big Hit Entertainment. He was relatively well known for his dance skills, and won various local prizes, including first place in a national dance competition in 2008. His dancing eventually led to an interest in singing, and he auditioned to become an idol trainee. While a trainee, J-Hope appeared as a featured rapper on singer Jo Kwon’s song “Animal”, released in 2012.

J-Hope made his debut as a member of BTS on June 13, 2013, during their appearance on M! Countdown. He was the third member to join as a trainee, following RM and Suga. As part of BTS, J-Hope has released four solo tracks: “Intro: Boy Meets Evil,” “Mama,” “Trivia 起: Just Dance,” and “Outro: Ego.” “Boy Meets Evil” (2016) explored the theme of temptation and showcased J-Hope’s rapping skills, while “Mama” (2016) was a quirky tribute to his mother, capturing his energetic delivery. “Just Dance” (2018) was a funky track that used dancing as a metaphor for love, and “Outro: Ego” (2020) reflected on J-Hope’s career and personal growth, contrasting his stage persona with his true identity.
In 2019, J-Hope collaborated with V and Swedish singer Zara Larsson on the single “A Brand New Day” for the BTS World video game’s soundtrack.
J-Hope’s solo career began with the 2015 track “1 Verse,” a rap that sampled The Game’s “El Chapo.” It addressed his critics and highlighted his vocal and rapping versatility. On March 1, 2018, he released his mixtape Hope World, which included the single “Daydream.” The mixtape debuted at number 63 on the Billboard 200, making J-Hope the highest-charting Korean solo act at the time. The mixtape’s success was marked by “Daydream” topping the World Digital Song Sales chart and making J-Hope one of the few Korean artists to achieve such a feat. He later released the full version of “Blue Side (Outro)” on March 1, 2021, to celebrate the mixtape’s third anniversary.
In 2019, J-Hope dropped the collaboration single “Chicken Noodle Soup” featuring Becky G, which debuted at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became his second song to top the World Digital Song Sales chart.
In June 2022, J-Hope became the first BTS member to promote as a solo artist. He released his debut solo album Jack in the Box on July 15, preceded by the single “More” on July 1. That summer, he made history as the first South Korean artist to headline a major U.S. music festival when he performed at Lollapalooza. J-Hope also featured on Crush’s single “Rush Hour” and made notable appearances at the MAMA Awards and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.
A documentary titled J-Hope in the Box was released in February 2023, showcasing the creation of his debut album and his Lollapalooza performance. That same month, he was named a Louis Vuitton brand ambassador. In March 2023, he released the collaboration single “On the Street” with J. Cole, which earned him his first top-40 entry on the UK Singles Chart and his highest ranking on the US Hot 100 at number 60.
In March 2024, Big Hit released the six-part docuseries Hope on the Street and the accompanying album Hope on the Street Vol. 1, which delved into J-Hope’s dance roots and artistic journey. The first episode premiered globally on Prime Video, and the album featured the lead single “Neuron.”
In January 2025, J-Hope announced his first solo tour, Hope on the Stage, starting on February 28, 2025, with three performances in Seoul, before expanding to major cities in Asia and North America.
Name
His stage name, J-Hope (제이홉), 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.
Impact
In 2018, J-Hope, alongside the other members of BTS, received the fifth-class Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit from the President of South Korea. He also earned the distinction of having the most liked tweet globally that year, thanks to his post of the “In My Feelings Challenge.”
In July 2021, J-Hope and his BTS bandmates were appointed as Special Presidential Envoys for Future Generations and Culture by President Moon Jae-in. This role tasked them with leading global initiatives for future generations, such as sustainable growth, and furthering South Korea’s diplomatic efforts on the international stage.
Philanthropy
Since 2018, J-Hope has been a member of the “Green Noble Club” for his high-value donations to Child Fund Korea. He has made numerous charitable contributions, including donating ₩100 million in 2019 to support his high school alma mater and ₩150 million earlier that year, which he requested to remain private. Over the years, he donated ₩100 million in December 2019 to assist children in need, ₩100 million in 2020 for children impacted by COVID-19, and ₩150 million in 2021 for children with visual and hearing impairments. He also contributed ₩100 million on Children’s Day for children affected by violence in Tanzania and another ₩100 million in December for heating and medical expenses for children in low-income families. By 2021, his total donations to Child Fund Korea reached ₩800 million.
In response to the 2022 South Korean floods, J-Hope donated ₩100 million to the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association. He also gave ₩100 million in February 2023 for emergency relief for children affected by the Turkey–Syria earthquake. In December 2024, following the Jeju Air Flight 2216 crash, he donated ₩100 million to the victims’ families as a gesture of support.
Military service
In December 2020, revisions to the Military Service Act allowed J-Hope and the other members of BTS to postpone their mandatory military service until the end of 2022. However, on February 26, 2023, Big Hit confirmed that J-Hope had canceled his deferment request and would begin his conscription. On April 1, the label announced his enlistment date, which was kept private, and J-Hope officially enlisted as an active-duty soldier on April 18 at the Army A Division Recruit Training Center in Gangwon Province. After completing basic training in May 2023, he was assigned as an assistant training instructor with the 36th Infantry Division in Wonju. He was discharged on October 17, 2024, after fulfilling his eighteen-month service.
Personal Life
In 2016, J-Hope purchased an apartment in South Korea worth ₩1.78 billion (2016) (equivalent to ₩1.81 billion or US$1.6 million in 2017) for his personal use. As of 2018, he lives in Hannam-dong, Seoul, South Korea with his bandmates.
Discography
- Jack in the Box (2022)
Filmography
Year | Program | Role | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | Hope on the Street | Himself | Docuseries; available on Prime Video and TVING |
2023 | J-Hope in the Box | Himself | Documentary; available on Weverse and Disney+ |
2022 | IU’s Palette | Himself | Episode 14 |
2019 | Under Nineteen | Himself | Dance tutor; episode 10 |
2017 | M Countdown | Host | With RM & Jimin |
2017 | M Countdown | Host | With Jimin & Jin |
2016 | Inkigayo | Host | V, Moonbyul & Wheein |
2016 | Show! Music Core | Host | With Jungkook |
Awards & Nominations
Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hanteo Music Awards | 2024 | Artist of the Year | J-Hope | Nominated |
iHeartRadio Music Awards | 2024 | Favourite On Screen | J-Hope in the Box | Won |
Seoul Music Awards | 2024 | Hallyu Special Award | J-Hope | Nominated |
Seoul Music Awards | 2024 | Main Award (Bonsang) | J-Hope | Nominated |
Seoul Music Awards | 2024 | Popularity Award | J-Hope | Nominated |
Circle Chart Music Awards | 2023 | Song of the Year – July | “More” | Nominated |
Circle Chart Music Awards | 2023 | Song of the Year – July | “Arson” | Nominated |
Circle Chart Music Awards | 2023 | Song of the Year – September | “Rush Hour” (with Crush) | Nominated |
The Fact Music Awards | 2023 | Best Music (Spring) | “On the Street” (with J. Cole) | Nominated |
The Fact Music Awards | 2023 | Fan N Star Choice Award – Individual | J-Hope | Nominated |
The Fact Music Awards | 2023 | IdolPlus Popularity Award | J-Hope | Nominated |
Golden Disc Awards | 2023 | Thai Fans Support with Baoji | J-Hope | Won |
Golden Disc Awards | 2023 | Best Album (Bonsang) | Jack in the Box | Nominated |
Golden Disc Awards | 2023 | Most Popular Artist Award | J-Hope | Nominated |
Grammy Awards | 2023 | Album of the Year | Music of the Spheres | Nominated |
Korean Hip-hop Awards | 2023 | R&B Track of the Year | “Rush Hour” (with Crush) | Won |
MAMA Awards | 2023 | Best Rap & Hip Hop Performance | “On the Street” (with J. Cole) | Nominated |
MAMA Awards | 2023 | Song of the Year | “On the Street” (with J. Cole) | Longlisted |
Seoul Music Awards | 2023 | Bonsang Award | Jack in the Box | Nominated |
Seoul Music Awards | 2023 | K-wave Award | J-Hope | Nominated |
Seoul Music Awards | 2023 | Popularity Award | J-Hope | Nominated |
Seoul Music Awards | 2023 | Fan Choice of the Year – April | J-Hope | Nominated |
MAMA Awards | 2022 | Culture & Style Award | J-Hope | Won |
MAMA Awards | 2022 | Most Popular Male Artist | J-Hope | Won |
MAMA Awards | 2022 | Artist of the Year | J-Hope | Nominated |
MAMA Awards | 2022 | Best Collaboration | “Rush Hour” (with Crush) | Nominated |
MAMA Awards | 2022 | Song of the Year | “More” | Nominated |
MAMA Awards | 2022 | Song of the Year | “Rush Hour” (with Crush) | Nominated |
MAMA Awards | 2022 | Best Male Artist | J-Hope | Nominated |
MAMA Awards | 2022 | Best Hip Hop & Urban Music | “More” | Nominated |