BTS’s J-Hope is once again showing his humble and caring side—this time by fully paying for his army friends’ group trip during his military service!
On the June 21 broadcast of MBC’s The Manager, J Hope appeared as a guest alongside actress Choi Kang Hee, where he opened up about his time in the military, including some surprising behind-the-scenes stories that warmed viewers’ hearts.
Jun Hyun Moo asked how food played a role in his decision to become a drill instructor, and J Hope answered honestly, saying, “After training, I was eating and the food was so good. They served mala tteokbokki, and I thought, I should just stay here. That’s when I decided to apply to be a drill instructor.”
He explained that becoming a drill instructor wasn’t easy. “You have to study for a month, then take an exam. If you pass, you become a drill instructor,” he said.
Jun Hyun Moo praised J Hope for always giving 100%, no matter the situation. J Hope replied with a laugh, “I studied so hard. You have to complete 6 subjects in a limited time. I even thought, If I had studied English this hard, I’d be fluent by now,” making the cast laugh.
He also shared a fun memory from one of his concerts, where he spotted a guy in the audience among mostly female fans. “I was like, Who’s that? and realized—it was my junior from the army! He had bought a ticket and came to see me perform. I was so surprised and touched.”
But the story that stole the spotlight was about the MT (membership training) trip. Hong Hyun Hee brought up a rumor that J Hope paid for it—and he confirmed it.
“Around the time I became a sergeant, the guys said, ‘Let’s go on a trip.’ I couldn’t go because of my schedule, and I felt bad. So I told them, ‘I’ll pay for everything. Just go and enjoy yourselves,’” he shared.
He went on to explain why it meant so much to him: “I joined the military as a celebrity, but I wanted to be a real friend to them. For those guys, our time together could become stories they’ll talk about later. So I wanted to make it special.”
J Hope added that the gesture meant a lot to his fellow soldiers. “They told me, ‘You didn’t feel like a celebrity at all. We’re really thankful. It became such a great memory.’ We still keep in touch to this day.”
Even his manager chimed in, saying, “Before he enlisted, I just hoped he’d avoid any criticism. But he didn’t just follow advice—he went beyond it. He even did things no one asked him to do.”
J Hope wrapped up by saying, “If I’m going to do something, I want to give it my all.”
Fans are loving J Hope’s sincerity, humility, and generosity, calling him “a true role model” both on and off stage.
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