BTS has returned. J-Hope adorned the finale of his solo tour, which lasted about 3 months, alongside his members, reaffirming that another beginning awaits, rather than an end.
The first day of J-Hope's world tour encore concert 'HOPE ON THE STAGE FANAL' took place at 7 p.m. on the 13th at Goyang City's Goyang Sports Complex main stadium. A total of 54,000 attendees (27,000 per show) filled the seats for this concert taking place over two days on the 13th and 14th.
Tickets for the Goyang concert sold out immediately upon release, proving J-Hope's incredible popularity. Especially since the '2025 BTS Festa' offline event is ongoing at the Goyang KINTEX exhibition center to celebrate BTS's 12th anniversary, fans have continuously gathered outside the concert venue to enjoy the music and experience the atmosphere.
J-Hope has met about 470,000 audience members through 31 performances in a total of 15 cities across North America and Asia since starting at KSPO DOME in Seoul in February. As the first K-pop solo artist to enter the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, J-Hope leaves a meaningful mark with this concert in Goyang, ending his 3-month tour. Given that this is the finale, J-Hope personally took part in the planning, staging, choreography, costumes, and props. It is said that the new stage seen only in the encore concert was also a choice made by J-Hope.
The title 'HOPE ON THE STAGE' symbolizes both 'J-Hope on stage' and the message that hope, wishes, and dreams can be manifested on stage. Accordingly, J-Hope reflected on his musical journey through five themes: 'Ambition,' 'Dream,' 'Expectation,' 'Fantasy,' and 'Wish.'
The concert began with tracks from his solo debut album 'Jack In The Box.' Starting with 'What if…,' followed by 'Pandora’s Box,' 'Arson,' 'STOP (There Are No Bad People in the World),' and 'MORE,' the fans cheered fervently for 'J-Hope.' In response, J-Hope said, 'It seems the rain will make the concert even more fun. You won't be able to tell if what you’re sweating is rain or sweat, as it’s going to be so much fun.'
Following that, J-Hope presented songs from his special album 'HOPE ON THE STREET VOL.1' and his first mixtape 'Hope World,' encapsulating his musical narrative on stage. Furthermore, he premiered the third solo single project song 'Killin' It Girl,' released at 1 p.m. that same day, stating, 'Killin' It Girl' doesn't need to be explained in a grandiose way. It's a song that showcases J-Hope's sexiness, and I prepared this song thinking I had to show everything powerfully. I am so grateful and honored that it will be released on such a meaningful day, June 13th. I appreciate it if you enjoy it.'
Additionally, J-Hope performed a medley of BTS songs from 'Trivia 起: Just Dance' to 'MIC DROP,' 'Chicken Nugget,' 'Disease,' and 'Outro: Ego,' to which the fans responded with loud cheers. Despite some rain throughout the performance, the heat of the concert was enough to evaporate the thin raindrops. J-Hope expressed joy instead of tears, saying, 'I consider this amount of rain romantic. It's just right, making it an enjoyable level.' He added, 'I was surprised by your cheers and support even in the rain.'
This concert is especially significant as it takes place on the very day of BTS's 12th anniversary. J-Hope remarked, 'I am so honored to hold the final performance on such a meaningful day, June 13th.' Additionally, on the 10th and 11th, members RM, V, Jimin, and Jungkook finished their military duties and returned, while Suga is currently serving as a social service agent, making this the time when all members had completed their military service. Fans expressed curiosity about whether the members would attend the concert, and fulfilling that expectation, members Jungkook and Jin made surprise appearances on stage with J-Hope, creating even more meaningful moments.
During J-Hope's performance of 'i wonder...,' Jungkook appeared, greeting the fans with a salute amidst their enthusiastic cheers and shared, 'I really missed you all.' He expressed his joy at being able to perform in front of the fans again, showcasing his first solo single 'Seven,' which J-Hope featured in, adding a special touch.
Next, Jin made a surprise appearance during the encore's first song 'Spring Day.' He shared, 'It's been a long time since I stood on such a large stage,' and admitted, 'I feel nervous standing in front of the fans again.' He added, 'Since June 13 is probably our debut date, I felt I had to perform, so I directly asked J-Hope to let me perform.' He then staged his solo performance of the title track 'Don’t Say You Love Me' from his second mini-album 'Echo.' Moreover, Jungkook rejoined after, reintroducing the unit song 'Jamais Vu,' which had only been shown during online concerts due to the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing joy five years later.
Although the official guests were only Jungkook and Jin, all members of BTS were present at the concert. J-Hope mentioned during his closing remarks, 'Today, other members are here at the concert,' and the members watching the performance from the audience were shown on the large screen. This was a moment when the 'complete' BTS gathered, including recently discharged V, RM, Jimin, and Suga, who is set to be discharged on the 21st. J-Hope exchanged hearts with the members and exclaimed, 'I love you,' expressing heartfelt thanks, saying, 'The members are precious to me, and if it weren't for them, I wouldn't be here, and if it weren't for you, our team wouldn't exist.'
Thus, this concert signified the end of J-Hope's solo tour but also served as a new starting point, heralding the return of the complete BTS soon. J-Hope stated, 'It's time for all the members to finish their military service and return. I have so much to show you all, right? I will prepare diligently to show you everything, so please look forward to it.'
Meanwhile, 'HOPE ON THE STAGE FANAL' will conclude its performances on the 14th.
[Photo] Big Hit Music
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