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BTS' j-hope reflected on his military experience in an interview with Weverse Magazine on December 7, two months after his discharge on October 17, 2024. He discussed his self-exploration, personal growth, and the solo work of his fellow members, sharing insights into life as Jung Ho-seok, away from the spotlight.
He said,
“It was a really important period for me. Nobody enters the military lightheartedly. It’s a tough, challenging journey, and at times psychologically demanding. But I felt like integrating into that society as Jeong Hoseok would make me into more of an adult and that the personal development would act as a good stepping stone for me.”
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Furthermore, he shared about overcoming the difficulties he faced in the military while also receiving insights on self-development by communicating with his fellow soldiers on a personal level.
“That year and a half as Jeong Hoseok also gave me time to reflect on j-hope. It was a chance to look back on everything I’ve done, so it really was time well spent. When I first got discharged, I talked about how I changed, how I’m more mature, and all that, but now I feel like I’m back to being my old self. I haven’t forgotten all those valuable memories, but what I want to say is, I’ve settled into being this new version of j-hope," he added.
BTS’ j-hope opens up about his camaraderie with his fellow soldiers in the military
BTS’ j-hope enlisted in the military on April 18, 2023, becoming the second member of the septet to do so. He fulfilled the 18-month conscription and was discharged on October 17, 2024, with the rank of sergeant. Several heartwarming stories emerged about j-Hope throughout his military journey from his fellow soldiers.
He elaborated on the role he played at the base and also spoke about the significance of following the ranks and hierarchy irrespective of age.
He said,
“The hierarchy was really strict in my unit, so I still addressed the soldiers who were younger than me Sergeant and “Assistant Drill Sergeant, sir.” I tried my best to fulfill the role assigned to me and give it my all.”
The singer shared that he treated his fellow soldiers with respect and maintained the boundaries when needed, similar to how he treats his BTS members.
He said,
“It’s like how in BTS we actually show each other more respect because we’re a group. I tried to do the same in the army. Since my actions determined what kind of memories each person would have left of me, I tried to respect certain boundaries, which I think made other people like me more and feel more at ease around me.”
On December 23, 2024, j-hope joined Jin for a Christmas-themed Weverse Live stream, where they shared funny conversations with fans. They also talked about Jin's solo variety show Run Jin, in which j-hope will appear. The episode featuring j-hope is set to release on December 24, 2024, on the BANGTAN TV YouTube channel.
