Who is J Hope? Biography, Age & Net Worth

J-Hope, known offstage as Jung Hoseok (Korean/Hangul: 정호석), was born on February 18, 1994, in Gwangju, South Korea.

Renowned as a dynamic performer, he stands as the principal dancer and lead rapper of the globally celebrated South Korean hip-hop ensemble BTS (Hangul: 방탄소년단).

Before his ascent to fame, he honed his skills as a street dancer with the troupe NEURON. His formal journey into the entertainment industry began in the spring of 2010 when he successfully passed auditions for Big Hit Entertainment.

Balancing academic commitments in Gwangju, he commenced rigorous training, refining his artistry. By the close of his first year in high school, he made the bold decision to relocate to Seoul, immersing himself in relentless training sessions under the company’s guidance.

In October 2013, J-Hope, alongside fellow BTS members V, Jung Kook (Hangul: 정국), and Jimin (Hangul: 지민), unveiled a cover rendition of Mariah Carey’s song “#Beautiful.” Accompanied by a music video titled “Beautiful,” the project showcased their early musical synergy.

J-Hope was officially introduced as a rapper within BTS in June 2013, standing alongside RM and Suga (also known as Agust D). Following the release of teaser visuals, he debuted with BTS on June 12, 2013, solidifying his place as the group’s main dancer and lead rapper.

In December 2015, he unveiled his inaugural solo track, “1 VERSE.” Coincidentally, this period also marked the inception of “Blue Side (Outro),” which would later surface on his 2018 mixtape.

Fast forward to February 2018, cryptic teasers for an unnamed mixtape started emerging on BTS’s official Twitter account. It was later confirmed that his debut solo project, Hope World, would be released on March 2, 2018. The first promoted single, Daydream (백일몽), made waves, followed by the music video for Airplane on March 7.

In September 2019, J-Hope ventured into a cross-cultural collaboration, dropping the track Chicken Noodle Soup featuring Becky G. The single soared to No. 81 on the Billboard Hot 100, cementing him as the first BTS member to achieve solo recognition on the chart. This milestone positioned him as the third Korean soloist and the sixth Korean act overall to attain this feat.

Commemorating the three-year anniversary of Hope World, J-Hope unveiled an extended rendition of Blue Side (Outro) in March 2021. The full version, spanning three minutes, was initially made available for free on BTS’s SoundCloud and later became accessible on Spotify.

Following BTS’s announcement of a temporary hiatus in June 2022 to focus on individual pursuits, J-Hope emerged as the first member to launch solo endeavors. His debut solo album, Jack in the Box, dropped on July 15, preceded by the electrifying lead single MORE on July 1. On July 31, he headlined the final day of Lollapalooza—an unprecedented moment in history as the first South Korean artist to achieve this feat, a performance that fans affectionately dubbed “Hobipalooza.”

In September 2022, J-Hope lent his artistry to Rush Hour, the comeback single by Crush. His momentum carried through to the end of the year as he made his solo performance debut at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve on December 31.

The inner workings of his creative process were unveiled in J-Hope In The Box, a documentary chronicling the making of Jack in the Box and his landmark performance at Lollapalooza. The film premiered globally on Weverse and Disney+ on February 17, 2023.

On August 18, 2023, the physical edition of Jack in the Box arrived under the title Jack in the Box (HOPE Edition), courtesy of BIGHIT Music. This edition featured the original tracklist alongside three live renditions from his historic Lollapalooza set and two instrumental versions. The package also included an array of concept photographs and exclusive collectibles.

In March 2024, J-Hope unveiled Hope on the Street Vol.1, a six-track collection intricately woven into his docu-series. This project, brimming with raw energy and an homage to street dance and hip-hop culture, was met with critical acclaim. Debuting at No. 6 on the Billboard World Albums chart, it resonated deeply with fans, further solidifying J-Hope’s reputation as a versatile and boundary-pushing artist.

Continuing his musical journey into 2025, J-Hope introduced Sweet Dreams (feat. Miguel), his third digital single, on March 7. This evocative track, crafted in collaboration with American singer-songwriter Miguel, encapsulates an unrestrained yearning for love and connection. The song’s live premiere took place during HOPE ON THE STAGE in SEOUL, marking the commencement of his highly anticipated world tour.