Shortly after completing his eighteen month service, Jung Hoseok, also known by his stage name J-Hope, announced his global tour called “Hope on the Stage.” J-Hope, the rapper and dancer of the internationally renowned K-pop group BTS, began the tour on February 28 in Seoul, South Korea, and will conclude on June 1 in Osaka, Japan. This tour includes 31 shows across 15 cities worldwide. 

This marks J-Hope’s first tour without the other members of BTS. His solo career began with the release of his debut mixtape “Hope World,” on March 2, 2018. In the years that followed, he released albums like “Jack in the Box” and “Hope On the Street Vol. 1,” alongside “Hope World.” He has also released non-album singles such as “Blue Side,” “Chicken Noodle Soup” featuring Becky G and his latest track, “Sweet Dreams,” featuring Miguel. With over 20 solo songs, he has accumulated enough material to curate a full concert setlist. 

“Back then, being the first one to release a solo project among the members came with a bit of pressure,” J-Hope said to Rolling Stone magazine in an interview. “On the other hand, I still feel the same level of responsibility. I am deeply aware that there are many people who look out for and support me in everything I do.” 

“It was really surprising and also expected for J-Hope to come out with an album,” senior Alna Babilson said. “We, the fans, wanted a comeback album after J-Hope came back from his military service.”

Although this is J-Hope’s first solo tour, it is not his first solo performance. He has previously performed at Lollapalooza 2022 in Chicago, making history as the first Korean artist to headline a major U.S. music festival. During his set, he performed several of his solo tracks, including “Equal Sign,” as well as some of BTS’s hits, such as “BTS Cypher Pt. 1.” J-Hope’s performance lasted one hour and sixteen minutes, with many fans from the BTS fandom, known as “Army,” attending to support him. He credits his success to his fans’ unwavering support.

In a different interview with Rolling Stone magazine, J-Hope said, “The success of that night led to ‘Hope on the Stage.’”

Similarly to his performance at Lollapalooza, J-Hope has incorporated BTS songs such as “Mic Drop” and “Silver Spoon” in his set list for “Hope on the Stage.” Other additions to the list are his original songs “on the street (solo version),” “Pandora’s Box” and “Base Line.” 

BTS’s final concert before the members enlisted in the military took place on October 15, 2022, in Busan, South Korea. With it having been two and a half years since that moment, fans were thrilled to learn that J-Hope would be performing again. On March 13 and 14, he took the stage at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

During his Friday performance, J-Hope debuted his unreleased single “Mona Lisa” to the public for the first time, surprising all his fans. He described it as a “heartfelt surprise gift” to express his gratitude for their “unwavering love and support” to Billboard magazine. 

“It was a really special experience to know I was one the first people in the world to see him perform ‘Mona Lisa,’” senior Eliana Park said.

Although Brooklyn is relatively close to NHP, obtaining tickets and transportation can be difficult, as prices have only continued to rise over the years. Many fans have to make the hard decision of which concerts to attend, especially with the possibility of a BTS reunion tour. Furthermore, foreign entertainment groups have expressed concerns that the number of concert venues in the United States may decrease due to the rising costs of visas. 

KARD, another K-pop group, canceled their 2025 U.S. tour due to complications regarding their visas. Other international musicians such as Respire, a Canadian metal band, as well as Bladee, a Swedish rapper, have also cancelled or delayed their U.S. tours because of similar visa issues.  

“I did not know this was a common thing happening, but it is quite disheartening since many fanbases (especially in the K-pop realm) are based in the U.S.,” senior Emily Lin said. “Although it is best not to blame the group or their companies to cause further issues, there is a lot of pity that goes into fans who have either already purchased their tickets or who simply want to go to a concert.”

“I think it has a lot to do with more than just a visa requirement,” AP Government teacher Mr. Galvin said. “I think it has to do with how the President is being perceived on the world stage and his effect on foreign policy and openness, along with his America first policies. Moreover, people from other parts of the world may think differently of the U.S. because of the current President’s narrow victory.”

While the future for K-pop concerts in the U.S. remains uncertain, J-Hope’s concerts have been an undeniable success so far. Fans have expressed glowing reviews of his performances, praising the stage effects, backup dancers, the live band and of course, J-Hope himself.

“It was the most amazing experience of my life!” senior Eliana Park said. “I would love to experience another concert like that, and I hope other groups come to the U.S. in the future.”