J-Hope of BTS Reflects on His Time in the South Korean Military: ‘I’ve Learned a Different Life’

After spending 18 months in the South Korean military, J-Hope says he is a very different person now that he’s back on the streets as a civilian.

In an interview with Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe, the BTS star opened up about his time serving his county leading up to the day he was discharged in October. J-Hope is only the second member of the boy band to finish his enlistment, following Jin; RM, Suga, V, Jimin and Jung Kook will return home from the military this June.

“I think it’s only natural for young people in South Korea to take on this responsibility,” the “Chicken Noodle Soup” singer told Lowe. “I thought it was a very important part of J-Hope’s or Jung Ho-seok’s life. After all, I am a proud citizen of South Korea. I love my country. There are things that I cherish in this country.”

“It’s a different experience,” he continued. “Also, in reality, I’ve learned a different life. And in many ways, I got to meet people from all walks of life and I received a lot of good energy. And I heard a lot of good things. But also, you know, a year and a half is actually not a very short time. That bit made me feel a lot of things. In the end, I think the most important thing was I realized how important the work I’ve been doing for all these years is incredibly meaningful to me.”

J-Hope, who continued to release solo projects during his enlistment, added, “Even though I was in the service, I think there was a part of me who never really let go of my love for music.”

Their collective service to the military has meant that the members of BTS have been on a break for about two years, last releasing an album in 2020, when Be reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Like Jimin, all of the other Bangtan Boys have also worked on solo releases throughout the band’s time away.

The break will soon be over, however with J-Hope also teasing on Apple Music 1 that he and his bandmates plan to reunite pretty much as soon as possible. “We will quickly get together and talk about what BTS can do in the future,” he told Lowe. “I think it’s going to be a massive energy.”

Watch J-Hope’s full interview with Lowe below.