BTS j-hope ELLE SPECIAL EDITION Magazine | December 2025 English Translation
Q. You often read ARMY’s letters on Weverse.You’ve said that the small wishes like “what we hope j-hope will do next” give you a lot of inspiration. j-hope:One of the...
Q. You often read ARMY’s letters on Weverse.
You’ve said that the small wishes like “what we hope j-hope will do next” give you a lot of inspiration.
j-hope:
One of the wishes I kept seeing was for a solo concert, and being able to finally make that happen this year was a huge joy for me. I’m just incredibly grateful.
There was also a message I read a while back saying, “It’ll be around Korean Series season when you’re discharged, so it’d be amazing if you threw the first pitch.” And I actually got to do that too (laughs).
I genuinely take time to think seriously about what ARMY hopes for, one by one.
Q. Thanks to that, this year was incredibly busy as well.
For you, 2025 will probably be defined by your first solo world tour, HOPE ON THE STAGE.
Looking back now, what did this journey leave behind for you?
j-hope:
At first, I was honestly very scared. I kept thinking, “Can I really carry a concert on my own? And not just once or twice…”
But as I watched myself complete each show no matter the situation, I started to believe, “I can actually do this.”
I also realized that I feel the most like j-hope when I’m on stage. That feeling is something I want to hold onto going forward.
Q. Sixteen cities, thirty-three shows, and over 520,000 audience members.
Do you feel satisfied now, or has the thirst grown even stronger?
j-hope:
Right now, I’m focused on acknowledging myself for successfully finishing the tour.
I’m regrouping and preparing diligently for BTS’s group activities.
Q. HOPE ON THE STAGE was filled with unforgettable moments, but if you had to choose just one scene you’ll never forget, what would it be?
j-hope:
Personally, the first night of the Goyang encore, when “Killin’ It Girl (Solo Version)” came in like fireworks on top of everything we’d built through the setlist.
To exaggerate a bit, it felt like the ground was shaking (laughs).
But honestly, I liked the second night’s “Killin’ It Girl (Solo Version)” even more—you really should’ve seen it (laughs).
Every moment was precious, but the most memorable was singing the ending song, “Safety Zone,” on the second night.
That song asks where the one place you can truly rest is, and singing it at the very end allowed me to fully express the truth that the place I feel safest is right there on stage with everyone. I still can’t forget that moment.
Q. Every detail felt intentional—your chemistry with the dancers, your live skills, the outfits, stage effects, and set design.
Which part required the most thought?
Especially moving from the mysterious world of Jack In The Box to ending with Hope World—that couldn’t have been easy.
j-hope:
This concert started from the perspective of “the first stage j-hope is showing,” and that was the most important point for me.
I’ve explored so many different musical styles and visuals, and I wanted to show that range more vividly.
At the same time, everything had to feel cohesive, so within the theme of HOPE ON THE STAGE, I worked hard to make sure it all flowed naturally.
From costumes and stage direction to the setlist and VJ effects, I spent a lot of time discussing every detail with the stage director and preparing with care.
Q. You also struggled with illness during the tour.
When something like that—something you can’t control—happens, what goes through your mind?
Especially when no one can replace you and stopping isn’t an option.
j-hope:
It was completely unexpected, and I didn’t think I’d be that sick (laughs).
I prepared thoroughly, but my physical condition turned out to be the biggest variable.
Still, I kept thinking about how the audience had set aside a precious day to come see me on stage.
With that in mind, I pushed myself to recover as much as possible before each show and fought intensely with myself to step on stage in the best condition I could.
Q. You recently appeared as a guest at Jin’s solo fan concert, and Jung Kook even joined in.
No one expected to see such a high-quality three-person “Super Tuna” performance.
j-hope:
Since Jin had joined my solo tour stage, I felt it was only right to be part of his celebration as well.
It was even more fun because we got to perform a special song together.
But honestly, the choreography for “Super Tuna” was surprisingly difficult—especially the “palttak-kkwalttak” part. I just couldn’t get used to it (laughs).
Q. From your first mixtape Hope World in 2018 to your recent feature on LE SSERAFIM’s “SPAGHETTI (feat. j-hope of BTS),”
it feels like you’ve been constantly experimenting—balancing what you want to do, what you do well, and what the public responds to.
j-hope:
I think I’m the type who needs to actually experience things to truly understand them.
I write songs, express them, feel the reactions, and keep searching for what suits me and what feels natural.
Through that process, trying different genres and performances, I feel like I’ve grown in my own way.
At the same time, my identity feels more solid and refined. I want to continue showing even more new attempts in the future.
Q. BTS has long conveyed messages about love—for humanity and the world at large.
This year, it felt like you explored love in especially diverse ways through music and dance, from “Sweet Dreams (feat. Miguel)” to “MONA LISA” and “Killin’ It Girl (feat. GloRilla).
Why did you approach this theme so intensely?
j-hope:
To show a more mature side of myself, I felt that love was the most fitting theme.
Everyone needs love, yet it also feels like one of the most lacking emotions in the world.
Love comes in many forms, but I chose to approach it from the most universal and familiar angle, blending maturity without making it overly complicated.
In the end, I think it clearly showed what j-hope’s “love songs” feel like.
Q. And at the end of that exploration, what conclusion did you reach about the perfect form of love?
j-hope:
Rather than defining love itself, what feels meaningful to me is the idea that we can contribute to one another in each moment we feel love.
Q. You also express love through social media—liking videos of kids or dancers celebrating to “Killin’ It Girl.”
Seeing that, it really feels like you’re watching everything.
j-hope:
Even a “like” on social media is a form of expression.
I see it as one way of showing interest and love. Expression is always important (laughs).
Q. Last summer, BTS finally reunited in LA to prepare for a new album.
What kind of time was that? We’ve heard that you made sure to eat meals together regularly.
j-hope:
It was really nice to be together again after so long—it brought back a lot of memories.
We were able to openly share things we hadn’t talked about while apart, and it felt like a very healthy, meaningful time that will help our future group activities.
We also sat together and ate a lot (laughs).
Q. Seoul has been a major source of BTS’s music, but working in a new environment can open up different creative possibilities.
Did stepping outside your familiar studio feel refreshing?
j-hope:
Working in Korea is meaningful, but different environments definitely bring their own vibe.
I’ve experienced that firsthand, having worked on music alone in LA before BTS activities, so I know how valuable that can be.
This time as well, the environment and atmosphere in LA played an important role in shaping our next album.
Q. Dance is where everything began for you.
Is it still the most essential part of your identity?
This year’s songs especially felt like music and dance were working together in perfect synergy.
j-hope:
Dance is something I can never separate from myself, and it’s a key element that makes my music clearer.
When it comes to performance, I’m always thinking about how to evolve and develop further.
Q. Your music, dance, and fashion all connect as one.
What has your collaboration with Louis Vuitton been like?
j-hope:
Louis Vuitton feels like a brand with strong roots.
At the same time, its ability to adapt quickly to the times aligns well with the direction I pursue.
You can see that clearly in their archives, and being part of their deep story has been genuinely fun and exciting.
Q. From the time BTS was first taking flight, to singing about self-love, to now fully expressing the rhythm of j-hope—
even as the form has changed, are you still someone who can’t live without hope?
j-hope:
“Hope” has become a truly important word that guides my life.
Because I talk about hope so often, I always remind myself that I must exist within that hope as well.
It might be the biggest driving force that keeps me moving.
Q. We’re all waiting for next spring.
It feels like it will be both powerful and warm.
j-hope:
That warm spring day—I’m looking forward to it too (laughs).
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