On April 12, the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army held the 2024 Military Music and Honor Guard Festival at the 36th Infantry Division in Gangwon-do. That day, BTS’s j-hope, who is currently serving as one of the division’s assistant instructors, became the center of attention. The festival, which featured military bands and honor guards from various divisions, highlighted j-hope’s popularity not just in the music scene, but also within the military.

Dressed in his military uniform, j-hope engaged enthusiastically with those who attended the event. He posed for photos with everyone who asked. He also displayed humility and respect for his fellow soldiers when he bowed to them. Photos and videos from the event, capturing him with male and female personnel from different military units, made the rounds on SNS. 

He earned significant attention and praise from ARMYs and locals alike. Fans on X (formerly Twitter) were quick to celebrate the HOPE ON THE STREET star, using terms like “Captain Korea,” “main character,” and “Our Sunshine” to describe his impactful presence. They also called j-hope “Superstar of the ROK Army.”

j-hope continues to make waves

Since enlisting on April 18, 2023, j-hope has quickly adapted to military life. Aside from serving as an assistant instructor for the 36th Infantry Division, he was also named a special forces soldier. He also earned an early promotion to the rank of sergeant due to his proficiency in first aid and marksmanship. j-hope was also praised for his performance as a platoon leader last year.

j-hope continues to make waves in the music scene, even while he’s away in the military, thanks to previously recorded content that’s only now being released. His latest album, HOPE ON THE STREET VOL. 1, coincided with the debut of his reality show by the same name. This album quickly climbed to the top of the US Section of the Hanteo National Charts in the second week of April. It achieved a composite index of 7320.78 points.

 

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The premiere of j-hope’s documentary HOPE ON THE STREET at midnight on March 28 was followed by the album’s release at 1:00 PM on March 29. The buzz continued with the launch of a pop-up store on March 30, where j-hope personally made an appearance. He posted a series of photos at the venue on Instagram.

Fans went wild when they saw that photo because such posts from the BTS members are rare these days due to their ongoing military service. Fortunately, j-hope stans won’t have to wait long to see him in the flesh again, as he’s set to be discharged this October. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: j-hope displayed charm, kindness, and humility at the festival. Source: X/@jhopesuperstar_.