J-Hope makes grand return with sold-out shows, new song
Opening his world tour, BTS’ J-Hope filled the stage with everything he loves.
Fresh from completing his military service last October, the singer kicked off his long-awaited solo world tour, "Hope on the Stage," with three sold out concerts at the KSPO Dome from Friday to Sunday.
On Sunday, the venue rocked with fans chanting J-Hope's name as they waited for the concert to begin.
Dressed in a striking red outfit and wearing sunglasses, the singer began the show with “What if …” and “Pandora’s Box,” his deep-toned rapping shining under intense lighting. He then dramatically removed his gloves, pulled out a lighter from his pocket, and set the stage on fire — both literally and figuratively — with “Arson.”
“The show’s title ‘Hope on the Stage’ means that I want to show you many things on stage as J-Hope,” said J-Hope.
The concert was divided into five sections — Ambition, Dream, Expectation, Fantasy, and Wish — each representing J-Hope’s journey as a solo artist.
The mood shifted as paper butterflies rained down from the ceiling and J-Hope reappeared in street-style attire to perform “On the Street.” He continued with tracks from his special album “Hope on the Street Vol. 1,” released in March last year, expressing his deep passion for street dance.
“I’ve been doing street dance since I was young, and I poured that love into the album I released last year. Now, I’m bringing it to the stage. Seeing how much you love this performance makes me happier than anything,” J-Hope shared.
A standout feature of the concert was the intricate stage floor setup, consisting of 26 lifts that transformed into various scenes — a path he walked, a train running on snowy tracks, and an endless staircase — creating an immersive experience.
A series of performances including “Airplane + Airplane Pt. 2,” “MIC Drop,” “Outro: Ego,” “Daydream,” and “Chicken Noodle Soup” followed, showcasing J-Hope’s wide-ranging musical spectrum as a solo artist.
J-Hope also surprised fans with a special performance of his new song, “Sweet Dreams,” set for release this Friday. As he sang, fans illuminated the venue with their phone flashlights.
“While thinking about what kind of music to make after my military discharge, I realized that love feels somewhat lacking in today’s world. And then I thought, ‘Has J-Hope ever made a proper love song?’ That’s how 'Sweet Dreams' was born. It’s a serenade of love dedicated to all of you,” he explained.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve performed. I didn’t expect Army’s energy and support to be this overwhelming. I promise to stay safe, healthy during the tour, and to continue being a source of hope through my music,” J-Hope said at the end of the 130-minute show.
The Seoul concerts were live-streamed on Weverse with translations available in eight languages. J-Hope will continue his tour with 12 shows across six US cities, followed by 16 performances in eight cities across Asia.
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