🏆 J-Hope has reached No. 21 in the K-pop Idol ranking for in January 2026.
Artist Profile
- Real Name: Jung Ho-seok
- Native Name: 정호석
- Nicknames: Hobi, Sunshine, Golden Hyung
- Birthday: Feb 18, 1994 (31 years old)
- Blood type: A
- Height/Weight: 177 cm (5’10”) / 65 kg (143 lbs)
- Gender: Male
- Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
- MBTI: INFJ
- Birthplace: Gwangju, South Korea
- Nationality: South Korean
- Profession: Singer, Rapper, Dancer, Songwriter, Record Producer
- Language Skills: Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese
- Current Agency: Big Hit Music (HYBE Labels)
- Debut: June 13, 2013
- Years Active: 2013–present (13 years)
- Group: BTS
J-Hope (born Jung Ho-seok; February 18, 1994) is a South Korean rapper and dancer. He is active primarily in South Korea and internationally in the K-pop music industry. He is a member of BTS, serving as the group’s main dancer, lead rapper, and a record producer.
Early life
Jung Ho-seok was raised in Gwangju with his parents and older sister. He attended Seoil Elementary School, Ilgok Middle School, and graduated from Gwangju Global High School.
From fourth grade through his first year of high school, he studied dance for six years at the Gwangju Music Academy and became the youngest member of the street dance crew Neuron. He received multiple local dance awards, including first place at a national dance competition in 2008.
In 2010, he moved to Seoul alone, passed an audition for Big Hit Entertainment, and became the third trainee selected for BTS.
Career
J-Hope debuted as a member of the boy band BTS on June 13, 2013, on M! Countdown, with the group’s debut album 2 Cool 4 Skool. He was the third member to join the group as a trainee, after RM and SUGA.
In 2015, he released the free solo rap track “1 Verse” on BTS’s SoundCloud account. In 2016, he performed the solo tracks “Intro: Boy Meets Evil” and “Mama” on the studio album Wings. In 2018, he released the solo track “Trivia 起: Just Dance” on the album Love Yourself: Answer.
On March 1, 2018, J-Hope released his debut solo mixtape Hope World, alongside a music video for the lead track “Daydream”; a video for the secondary track “Airplane” was released on March 6. The mixtape debuted at number 63 and peaked at number 38 on the US Billboard 200. Six tracks from the mixtape entered the World Digital Song Sales chart, with “Daydream” reaching number one. Hope World ranked fifth on Billboard’s year-end World Albums chart for 2018.
In 2019, he released the collaborative single “Chicken Noodle Soup” with Becky G on September 27. The song debuted at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100, making him the first BTS member to enter the chart as a solo artist. The same year, he collaborated with V and Zara Larsson on “A Brand New Day” for the soundtrack of the game BTS World.
In 2020, J-Hope performed the solo track “Outro: Ego” on the album Map of the Soul: 7. In January 2020, he became a full member of the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA).
In 2022, HYBE announced J-Hope as the first BTS member to promote as a solo artist. His first solo studio album, Jack in the Box, was released on July 15, preceded by the single “More” on July 1. On July 31, he performed as the headliner on the final day of Lollapalooza, becoming the first Korean artist to headline the main stage of a major music festival in the United States. In September, he featured on Crush’s song “Rush Hour.” On November 30, he performed solo at the MAMA Awards, and on December 31, he appeared on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.
In 2023, the documentary J-Hope in the Box was released on Weverse and Disney+ in February. The same month, he was announced as a brand ambassador for Louis Vuitton. On March 3, he released the collaborative single “On the Street” with J. Cole, which reached number 37 on the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100. On April 18, he enlisted for mandatory military service; after completing basic training, he was appointed as an assistant drill instructor in the 36th Infantry Division in Wonju.
In 2024, the six-episode documentary series Hope on the Street premiered on Prime Video on March 27, followed by the release of the special album Hope on the Street Vol. 1 on March 29, featuring the title track “Neuron,” a collaboration with Gaeko and Yoon Mi-rae. On October 17, J-Hope was discharged after completing his military service.
In 2025, he participated in the charity event Le Gala des Pièces Jaunes at La Défense Arena in Paris in January, performing three songs before an audience of approximately 35,000. The same month, he announced his first solo tour, Hope on the Stage, which began in Seoul and expanded to cities across Asia and North America, concluding with two shows on June 13 and 14 at the main stadium of the Goyang Sports Complex. In February 2025, he was announced as one of the headlining artists for Lollapalooza Berlin 2025, scheduled for July in Berlin.
Fun facts
- He has been nicknamed a “portable charger” by SUGA for consistently bringing energy to the group.
- He once spat out food in surprise during Run BTS, prompting laughter from fans.
- He lowers his head during group hugs so fans can still see the other members’ faces.
- He pushed RM away from a hole in the ground without warning.
- He held Jimin’s head to prevent a collision during a limbo game.
- He exaggeratedly reviewed a novelty toy shaped like a defecating flamingo on Run BTS.
- He shouted his own name, “JHOOOPPEEE,” in Yoongi’s style, which became a popular meme.
- He burst into laughter after being told he looked like a BTS member while walking on an American street.
- He mimicked a Windows shutdown effect when frightened on a roller coaster.
- He is skilled at beatboxing and previously practiced b-boying, which he later stopped due to a shoulder injury.
- He shielded V when V rode on Jin’s back to prevent a fall.
- He once called himself unattractive in a comedy clip, drawing laughter from others.
- He laughed uncontrollably during a debate about mint chocolate ice cream on Run BTS.
- He is known for offering hugs and head massages to other members when they are tired.
- He compared the sound of Jin and Jungkook clapping paper to pigeons flapping their wings, prompting the group to clap faster as a joke.
