"The power of ARMY is incredible and moves me."
The summer heat and sudden drizzle could not dampen the fiery passion of J-Hope and ARMY.
BTS's J-Hope held the 'j-hope Tour 'HOPE ON THE STAGE' FINAL' (hereafter 'HOPE ON THE STAGE') at the Goyang Sports Complex Main Stadium on the 13th and 14th, wrapping up his solo world tour in a spectacular fashion. J-Hope connected with over 54,000 audience members over two days through a performance that lasted about three hours, arranged for a live band.
The concert started on June 13, the debut date of BTS, adding to its significance. J-Hope exclaimed, "It is truly an honor to hold the final performance on such a meaningful day, June 13. Since this is the last of the world tour, let's have an insane time. I prepared a lot for this performance, and there is so much more to show you in the future. You will want to continue being with me," raising the atmosphere.
The stage, featuring songs from his first solo album 'Jack In The Box' and the special album 'HOPE ON THE STREET VOL.1', showcased J-Hope's musical growth and transformation.
The stage for the digital single 'Killin’ It Girl (feat. GloRilla)', released on the 13th, was also unveiled for the first time, drawing huge cheers. The intense hip-hop sound highlighted J-Hope's bold and sexy dance moves, as well as the pair choreography with dancers. He stated, "This song doesn't need a grand explanation. I think it was a song and performance where you could see my sexiness," to which the audience responded with explosive reactions.
The concert featured legendary guests. On the first day, BTS members Jin and Jungkook made surprise appearances, thrilling the fans. Jin performed his solo song 'Don’t Say You Love Me', while J-Hope and Jungkook teamed up for 'Seven (feat. Latto)'. The two sang 'Spring Day' (Jin) and 'i wonder... (with Jung Kook of BTS)' (Jungkook) with J-Hope.
In particular, the three members' performance of 'Jamais Vu' was revealed to fans for the first time since the online concert 'Bang Bang Con The Live' in 2020, bringing great emotion. Additionally, RM, Suga, Jimin, and V visited the concert, gathering the full BTS to send heartfelt support to J-Hope.
On the second day, Crush joined as a guest. He performed their collaboration song 'Rush Hour (Feat. j-hope of BTS)', released in 2022. They also showcased a fantastic synergy during J-Hope's 'Sweet Dreams (feat. Miguel) (FNZ Remix)'.
Additionally, during 'Trivia 起 : Just Dance', a large water cannon cooled down the heat of the venue, and a spectacular fireworks display adorned the finale of the performance. The use of a lift bridge, open stage, and enhanced special effects maximized the audience's immersion, perfectly proving J-Hope's worth as a 'world-class performer'.
The fans responded with enthusiastic cheers and applause at every stage. During the encore, they turned on their phone flashes and cheered, chanting together. In particular, the massive wave created using ARMY bombs was a spectacular sight.
J-Hope shared, "I performed every stage as if it were the last, but now it is truly the last. Where there is an end, there is also a new beginning. I will dance, rap, and sing on stage until this body wears out because I love the stage so much. In many ways, there is a connection between you and me. The power of ARMY is incredible and moves me. I received such good energy during these four months, which may be short for some and long for others," he expressed with tears.
Meanwhile, 'HOPE ON THE STAGE', which started in February at the KSPO DOME in Seoul, concluded its grand journey with the Goyang performance. J-Hope held a total of 33 performances in 16 cities worldwide through this world tour, attracting a cumulative audience of 524,000.
[Lee Da-kyum, Star Today Reporter]
