BTS's j-hope Concludes Solo World Tour with a Bang, Celebrates Group's Return

"We are back!"

j-hope of BTS announced the group's return with a powerful statement. As BTS's hiatus comes to an end, their full group activities are just around the corner.

On June 13, j-hope held his solo concert 'j-hope Tour: Hope on the Stage Final' at the Goyang Sports Complex in Ilsan. This concert marked the encore of his first solo world tour, which began in February at Seoul's KSPO DOME and traveled through major cities in North America and Asia. j-hope expressed his emotions, saying, "It's finally the final show. I can't believe it. We started in Seoul at the end of February and toured for three months. This concert has finally reached its finale."

The first day of j-hope's final concert coincided with BTS's debut anniversary. j-hope shared, "It's an honor to have the final concert on such a meaningful day, June 13. Let's have fun since it's '613' and the final show. I've prepared ambitiously. A new single was released today, and you'll get to see that performance too," which was met with cheers.

j-hope premiered his new song 'Killin It Girl (feat. GloRilla)' on the day of the concert. He described the track as one that doesn't need a lengthy explanation, pausing before adding with a laugh, "It's a stage where you can see j-hope's sexy side." He further explained, "I've shown three singles, approaching the big theme of love in J-Hope's unique way, making it easy listening. I wanted to give a narrative to the three songs."

During the performance, a light rain began to fall. j-hope commented, "It's drizzling a bit. I think today's show will be more fun. I hope you enjoy it so much that you can't tell if it's sweat or rain." The audience, undeterred by the occasional raindrops, enjoyed the concert in raincoats.

The stage, composed of 27 lifts, changed arrangements according to the setlist to emphasize each song's atmosphere. During 'Airplane pt2,' the lifts lined up with train graphics, making it appear as if j-hope was crossing a moving train. For the 'Disease' stage, images reminiscent of analog TVs were displayed, creating the illusion of j-hope jumping across multiple TVs. The introduction of 'Hope World' utilized five connected screens for a grand visual effect.

There were some drawbacks in the stage design. The 'Daydream' performance was conducted with unevenly placed structures, obscuring j-hope from view in the audience. Although the camera work showcased impressive screen visuals, the lack of live presence was noted as a downside.

BTS members actively supported j-hope's concert. During the 'I Wonder...' stage, Jungkook appeared, eliciting cheers from the audience. Recently discharged, Jungkook sported a clean, short hairstyle. The duo performed together, showcasing their chemistry. Jungkook's first solo single 'Seven' was also performed, with j-hope covering the rap part. Their long-standing teamwork shone brightly.

Eldest member Jin made a surprise appearance on stage. Wanting to gift a performance to ARMYs on their debut anniversary, Jin proposed the idea to j-hope. They sang one of BTS's hit songs, 'Spring Day,' together. Following this, j-hope, Jin, and Jungkook performed the unit song 'Jamais Vu.' The sight of the members on stage together heightened anticipation for their full group comeback.

However, some expressed disappointment that j-hope didn't receive the full spotlight. Fans felt that as the final solo concert, it should have been designed to highlight j-hope's solo artist capabilities more prominently.

All BTS members attended the concert. RM, V, and Jimin, who were recently discharged, as well as Suga, currently serving as a social service agent, were present. j-hope exclaimed, "The members are here today," and shouted, "I love you," causing excitement in the venue. With Suga's discharge on the horizon, BTS's hiatus is nearing its end. j-hope confidently stated, "The members are finishing their military service and returning. We have so much to show you. We'll prepare diligently, so please look forward to it."

j-hope expressed his affection for the members, saying, "The members are incredibly precious to me. Without them, I wouldn't be here, and without you, our team wouldn't exist. I feel like we're all connected." The audience responded by chanting "BTS" in unison.

Through this world tour, j-hope performed 31 shows in 15 cities, attracting approximately 470,000 attendees. The final performances continue through the 14th, with j-hope concluding the tour with around 54,000 fans over two days.

Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr