J-Hope

Jung Ho-seok, known professionally as J-Hope, is a South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, dancer, and record producer. Born on February 18, 1994, in Gwangju, South Korea, he grew up with his parents and older sister. Prior to his professional debut, he was a member of the underground dance team Neuron, trained at Gwangju Music Academy, and won first place in a 2008 national dance competition. He signed with Big Hit Entertainment and featured on Jo Kwon's 2012 song "Animal." He later earned a degree in Broadcasting and Entertainment from Global Cyber University and enrolled in Hanyang Cyber University's MBA program.

On June 13, 2013, J-Hope made his official debut as a member of the South Korean boy band BTS on M! Countdown. He was the third member to join the group as a trainee. Across BTS's discography, J-Hope performed four solo tracks: "Intro: Boy Meets Evil" and "Mama" in 2016, "Trivia 起: Just Dance" in 2018, and "Outro: Ego" in 2020. In June 2019, he collaborated with bandmate V and Zara Larsson on the single "A Brand New Day" for the official soundtrack of the BTS World mobile game.

J-Hope began releasing solo work outside BTS with his 2015 track "1 Verse." On March 1, 2018, he released his debut solo mixtape, Hope World, featuring the lead single "Daydream." The project peaked at number 38 on the US Billboard 200, making him the highest-charting Korean soloist at the time. In September 2019, he released "Chicken Noodle Soup" featuring Becky G, which debuted at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100 and made him the first BTS member to enter the chart as a solo artist.

In July 2022, J-Hope released his debut studio album, Jack in the Box, preceded by the single "More." That same month, he became the first South Korean artist to headline a main stage at a major United States music festival when he performed at Lollapalooza. His documentary J-Hope in the Box premiered in February 2023, coinciding with his appointment as a Louis Vuitton brand ambassador. In March 2023, he released "On the Street" featuring J. Cole. A docuseries and special album titled Hope on the Street were released in March 2024.

J-Hope served his mandatory military service from April 2023 to October 2024 as an assistant training instructor. Following his discharge, he performed as the opening act at Le Gala des Pièces Jaunes in Paris in January 2025 and launched his first solo tour, Hope on the Stage, in February 2025. He was also announced as a headliner for Lollapalooza Berlin 2025. Recognized for his cultural impact, he received the Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit in 2018 and was appointed a Special Presidential Envoy in 2021. He is also an active philanthropist, contributing frequently to Child Fund Korea and various disaster relief efforts.