j-hope has a long list of firsts that would make any Korean or K-pop fan proud, but he wants to go further than that. But how exactly does he want to define success?

Success at its finest

Before BTS' global superstardom, j-hope had already achieved milestones on several Billboard charts through his first mixed tape, HopeWorld, and his remake of Chicken Noodle Soup. He made history as the first Korean solo act to headline Lollapalooza, an international music festival that has been running for 30 years.

Despite taking a break from his career, j-hope has been breaking records. Recently, he became the first Korean solo artist to enter Spotify's "Top 100 Most Followed Artists" list. It measures how many listeners become fans, and j-hope has dominated the list since 2019.

But what is success for?

But j-hope is not content with merely being a chart-topping artist. He shares on Weverse Magazine, “Whenever I try to embrace an unintended success, in my mind I’m always like … It’s like half happiness, half a feeling that makes me think seriously about what I accomplished. There’s a sense of responsibility that comes along with such an honorable achievement.”

Is there any point in reaching the top of the charts if it will eventually be surpassed? Is it worth achieving success if it only benefits oneself?

With charting, streaming, and obsession for popularity becoming excessively competitive, j-hope goes above and beyond by intending to be a force of good.

Defining his mission

As early as 2018, j-hope embarked on a selfless mission. In “Piece of Peace (P.O.P,) he raps, “If I can give strength to someone… can be a light to someone… I wish I could be a piece of peace.”

Four years later, j-hope stood before a multitude and emphasized his mission as a man for others. At Lollapalooza,ee introduced a back-to-back performance of his socially relevant music: "Piece of Peace," "Equal Sign," and "Stop" by declaring, "This is my story." By publicly committing to his expectations, j-hope demonstrated unwavering courage.

Living his mission

Offstage and off-screen, j-hope uses his influence to be a beacon and role model. 

His philanthropic efforts span gender, race, and age.

He is a guiding light to his sunbaenims, advocating humility and discipline.

He behaves with great care and consideration for others.

Repurposing success

Through his music, work ethic, and lifestyle, j-hope shows that achieving history-making feats is not enough - it's what you do with it that makes a difference.