
BTS's J-Hope made his long-awaited return to I Live Alone, revealing a surprisingly down-to-earth and lively side that earned him the nickname "J-Heung"-a playful twist on his name that captures his infectious energy and excitement.
The February 28 episode followed J-Hope's life in Los Angeles, where he is focusing on music production after completing his military service. While his meticulous housekeeping skills impressed viewers, it was his unexpected moments - practicing English before ordering food, reacting with pure joy to his first drive-thru burger, and passionately singing along to nostalgic Korean songs - that truly stole the show. His unfiltered enthusiasm had both the I Live Alone cast and fans laughing.
The show recorded an 8.0% viewership rating in the Seoul area and 7.4% nationwide, topping its time slot. The highest-rated moments, peaking at 9.6%, featured J-Hope’s excitement over his first drive-thru meal and his amusing attempt to order pork belly at a butcher shop.
Netizens flooded online forums with praise for his unexpected yet lovable personality. Many found his honesty about struggling with English endearing, while others loved seeing a "world-class artist" enjoying the simple joys of life. Fans flooded online forums with comments like, “He’s so effortlessly funny,” and “This is the most relatable I’ve ever seen him.” His energetic personality even had some calling him "the human embodiment of happiness."
At the end of the episode, a preview teased J-Hope’s visit to Benny Blanco’s home in the next episode of I Live Alone. The upcoming episode will offer an even deeper look into his life in Los Angeles as he continues working on new music. In the preview, J-Hope is seen visiting a recording studio, sharing glimpses of the inspiration he has gathered for his latest project. While his new music remains unheard in the clip, cast member Jun Hyun Moo reacts enthusiastically, saying, “This song is amazing. [J-Hope]’s voice is incredible.”
After an intense recording session, J-Hope meets with his sister over a meal, candidly opening up about the pressure he feels as he moves forward in his musical career.
Later, he heads to the home of Benny Blanco, the American musician and producer with whom he has previously collaborated on multiple songs. Benny Blanco welcomes J-Hope into his home, showing off an impressive art collection. In a lighthearted moment, he jokingly tells J-Hope through a translation app, “I think you’re cute.”
With the next episode promising even more insight into J-Hope’s creative process and personal journey, anticipation continues to build among fans eager to see more of his life beyond the stage.
SEE ALSO: BTS’s J-Hope teams up with the Louvre Museum for ‘MONA LISA’ surprise collaboration