Between the past, present, and future, which one do you think of as most important?

My thoughts change from time to time. I feel it’s at a time where my thoughts change if a day passes. Just a while ago I put my attention in the past and tried to change something. Next I thought about the future. What should I do in the future, what would be our team’s future. But what comes back in the end is just present. So, I’m trying to live with how the flow goes, matching the footsteps with the present. I also need things like “trust with nothing in return”, “hope”, “courage”. Something that I have always talked about in lyrics 

The word “past” what does it mean to you?

For me it’s blood and flesh. Many things that I have experienced, things that sinked into my skin have piled up. Something I cannot forget and parts that I must have. 

Is there something you miss from your childhood?

I think I miss things that I have not been able to experience. I wasn’t able to experience common things like field trips or school trips. I wasn’t able to go to both middle school and high school graduation. Things I gave up for my dream, I miss it and it’s a little bit saddening. It’s a dream you can only wish for as a student. Back then I was happy that I didn’t need to go to school but now that it has passed, I would like to experience it. 

What is your first meaningful place/space?

When we lived in dorms, I never had a room for myself. I always shared a room with my friends, especially with Jimin. The most meaningful place for me is our first dorm. It felt like a nest for rappers a little. The odd emotions, the excited feelings, interesting experiences, that I felt living in the environment where I lived with others, all that is mixed in and living within the place called dorm. Coming up to Seoul for the first time and till right before debuting, a lot of people went by that dorm. If I think back I wonder to myself if I ever had time where I can have real talks and share thoughts with so many people. At that time, I talked and practiced with friends around my age everyday. Sent off someone again, I also said goodbye and left, and then came back. 

In your mind, how old do you put yourself as?

My age in my heart is going just as my age is. I don’t think I put myself younger than myself nor do I think that I feel older than how I am. If I gain a year, I feel that my mind also becomes as mature. 

When was the “Moment of Proof”?

I would say probably the debut stage? I thought that I had proved myself on the first stage that I stood after preparing so much and going through so much effort. 

Not to the world but is there something you want to prove to yourself?

The part that I would like to prove myself is, would I be able to keep what I have said. The optimistic messages I have told people. I am curious to know when real trials, ups and downs, and hardships come to me, whether I would be able to keep that up. I have a fear of it. “Would I be able to keep everything I say? Perhaps I have a contradiction?” To try to break that fear, I would like to go to the moment of hardship that might come in the future and prove to myself.

While living as BTS, do you think there was a change that made Jung Hoseok, as an individual, more clear or faded?

At first there were no boundaries between Jung Hoseok and j-hope. I think it’s because I myself am a positive (person). So, I thought there was not much difference between Jung Hoseok and j-hope. These days I am trying to pull Jung Hoseok, the individual more. I feel that, that way I am able to make my own resting place and be able to rest properly when I get back from work. Guess I can say another small space? It gave me motivation and strength. Loosened my nervousness and I’m more comfortable. So I am trying to make it more clear. One interesting thing is, as I make Jung Hoseok the individual more clear; I learned that I am not a type that feels really comfortable meeting people actually. I think extrovertness may have been strong. It might have changed that way because I was active for a long time as j-hope, and as a person named j-hope.

How similar is your usual self in real life compared to the BTS member (you are) shown to the world?

I try to mentally separate it but it’s the same person after all. So it can’t have that much difference. I think about 70~80% similar. What I feel the most similarities is that as an individual and as a BTS member, I put a lot of effort into how I look. When I go out, when I am meeting people, even when I am alone, it doesn’t change. 

Is the current ‘Me’ and the past ‘Me’ different?

As a person, a lot of things have changed. The ‘past’ me had no time to think or anything. There were things I learned as time passed, learned life through people, and became mature. But, one thing that has not changed is my passion for work. That isn’t going to change. I still like music, feel bliss when I show something cool, that is constant. The moment I feel the most passion and bliss is when I perform on stage. It’s very clear that I am able to enjoy and have fun while doing it. 

Looking back, what was the darkest moment for you?

I am affected by people around me so rather than having hard times because of my own self, I tend to go through hard times when others go through hardship. When members are having hard times I also feel hardship and at the same time gain strength from members. Of course when I am going through hard times, fans pop into my head the most. When I’m going into the dark, I think about the enormous love I am receiving. That’s how I recover. 

If you were to write a letter to yourself in the past, what would you want to write?

I don’t want to inform a lot of things to the ‘past me’. I’m worried that something might change. If I had to write it, I want to say, just live as you are. Because there is Jung Hoseok and j-hope from the past, I am here currently and there will be a future me. I want to send it like “Hey, just live. Just try once.”

During the day, what time do you think it’s your time for yourself?

From 10 pm to 3 am is real time of my own. I am the type that strictly separates business and private matters. I don’t even have music equipment at home. Home is a rest place. Since I have separated that way, usually when I get home after work, it’s about 10 pm. I wash up and do other stuff. It becomes around 3 am after I use my phone in bed, do some internet shopping, and search things. The rest of the time, I think I try hard to live my life. 

What situation and place do you feel like yourself the most? 

I feel like myself the most when I am working hard. I tend to get nervous when I am not working. So, I think I feel like myself the most when; I am doing something productive, working hard and everything is going busy. That way the personal time I have mentioned earlier is more meaningful. 

Who would be the person that would be able to talk about you well the most?

I think only myself will know. However, honestly speaking there are some parts that I, myself have questions about myself. So I also want to know more about myself. There are parts that I want to hear answers to. From myself.

What do you like to be called the most?

Oftentimes, I am called by nickname of my stage name “hobi” a lot and it’s fun and I like it. There are many times when fans and people around me call me ‘hobi’, and I also feel friendly. 

If there is something in life that is an indispensable existence, what would it be?

People around me, including fans, are of course indispensable. Looking at Micky (companion dog) I thought about animals. Although animals are different from humans so we can’t communicate but, you can say we can communicate through the mind? There is a thing like that. You can really commune. There is comfort and energy that various living things give me. So, I feel like animals are indispensable. I can clearly understand why people raise animals like dogs and cats. 

Is there something you have been constantly telling yourself recently?

“You, you are feeling grateful and thankful every moment in your life, right?” I throw that question out a lot because I live such a meaningful life. If I don’t throw these questions to myself, I am scared that I would take this life for granted. I should live with a thankful and grateful heart that’s not for granted. Also need to live with a vocation. 

How fast in km do you think you are going right now?

Just about 2-3 years ago I think I was going at 180km. Back then, I stepped on the accelerator and drove saying “Let’s just go!” Now, I am going about 120km, while looking around my surroundings and being aware of the speed I am going. If there is a need, I would slow down as well. Thinking back, I think there were some dangerous moments when I was going at 180km.

If there is something you are focusing on these days, what would you say it is?

I think there is only music. I am currently focusing on music. When I say that I am currently focusing on music, it sounds grand and looks like someone who has been doing music for a long time. So I feel embarrassed and shy but as it’s a part that I am lacking on, I am focusing on music to produce a better result.  

Which color do you think best describes you?

Mint color. It’s cool and refreshing. It feels like me and I think the color that best describes me is mint. 

Is there something that you put effort into to make your color more vivid?

To make my own mint color more vivid, I try to add another layer. For example, taking care of myself, going to work out, I think is one of those efforts. Also, I constantly listen to music and make an environment that will allow me to think on my own of what I want to do. Since I also like fashion, I try new things to make myself more vivid.

Is there a thought you always think about before going to sleep everyday?

I think about what I need to do the next day. If there is a task I have to finish, I think about that. Not sure if it is because I fall asleep thinking about those things, when I wake up I am tired. I don’t think I have woken up feeling refreshed lately.

Out of the dreams you had recently, are there any that are memorable?

It’s a dream I had today. I dreamt of having a fight with Jin. I see Jin often and it was interesting to see Jin even in my dream. In the dream, I was cooking with Jin but the food that we cooked failed. So we both had a bewildered look on our faces but suddenly at that moment I woke up. Usually I tend to forget my dreams completely after a while but today’s dream felt so clear.

Is there a dream that you do not want to wake up from?

I have dreams where I am having a good rest. Those times I really don’t want to wake up from it. I have had dreams often lately and it felt really nice when I am resting comfortably in my dream.

If you were able to go to another dimension, do you have any place you would like to go to?

I think anywhere, it would be nice. It wouldn’t be bad to leave with no destination and come back when you are tired. The pandemic was long. A lot of things are changing again right now and when it completely returns back to normal, it would be nice to go somewhere. I don’t want to specifically choose. 

If you were to look at life as one road, how far do you think you came now?

If I were to think as artist j-hope, I would say I am exactly in the half way. I am still far from reaching the end. I now need to do the rest of the half. 

Do you think you are currently standing in a crossroad of change?

Yes. I think it’s a very important time right now. I think there will be many various changes depending on the choices I make. I would need to make good choices and continue to  move forward following the choice. 

Do you believe there is a predestined fate?

I do believe that there is somewhat. But I think the answer to this question will be very different for each member. There will be those who say there isn’t. I don’t think that there isn’t one completely but also am not on the side that believes completely that there is one.

Personally, what is the most meaningful album out of the whole BTS discography? 

There are so many but if I were to choose just one, <WINGS> album which has ‘Intro: Boy Meets Evil’ that I took the role for. This album has a big meaning for me. It’s an album that overall, there were a lot of things I went for as a challenge and one that I tried hard to push myself to the next level.

Through the <WINGS> album how did you grow?

I was able to musically grow. BTS album’s intro was considered important and served as a basis for the album’s narrative. So with the thought that the intro I worked on cannot provide any harm to the album, I worked hard. Also it is not an easy job to fill a whole 3 minute with one person’s voice, and I had to lead the song with my voice. I tried to overcome those hardships. In that album it also includes my solo song ‘MAMA’. I think that’s why I think that I grew through the album. Not only music but even with dance, I tried a genre that I have not experienced before through tremendous amounts of practice. It was my first time realizing that there is something I gain if I put effort. I did early morning practices when I was young and had forgotten about it for a while, but with this album, I practiced hard at early morning practices again. I was able to feel that I was putting effort. It was a good time period and a good opportunity. 

Outro: Ego

What does this song mean to you?

I think it’s a song that can express j-hope. Whether it’s Jung Hoseok or j-hope, I think it’s a song that contains a story of ‘me’ overall. 

Early in the lyric, there is the lyric “I go back everyday, to myself back then” when is ‘back then’ that you are mentioning in the song?

“Back then” refers to the time when I was at a crossroad of change. I am asking what if there was a life of the choice that I didn’t choose. ‘If I had given up a lot of the parts, if I had just let go of everything what would have happened?’, something like that. Thinking about it makes me really thankful for the choice I made. 

Do you have a standard/criteria when you are choosing something?

In the past I chose things that are me but these days I come to think, let’s make choices that are not like me. A choice that is not like me that I can learn from. If I make choices that are me every day, of course, I might get something more helpful but I will just end up with just a person that I am. Right now, I want to try new things and realize and feel them. 

Her

What does this song mean to you?

It’s a Rap line unit song. It’s a meaningful song for me since it’s a song with another different vibe that I can show as a rapper. I also thought that it would be nice if more fans knew about this song. In the past rap line unit songs always were smashing and breaking things. (laugh) I wanted to show that there is a song with a different vibe like this.

Rap line that consists of RM-SUGA-j-hope, what kind of synergy do you believe you are making with each other?

Rap line unit’s energy is definitely special. It’s especially different during concerts. I think fans go crazy for that energy. Definitely feel that out of many units in BTS, it has a role for impact. It’s a necessary part. Doesn’t mean that the rapline unit takes a big part. But I think it’s an energy we must have and we are expressing it as a synergy. We communicate a lot about music. It is a combination that makes such a beautiful bond.  

What did you usually think about while writing this song?

I thought about fans a lot while I was writing it. It is a song that I throw a question to myself asking, ‘what effort are you putting for the fans?’ I have just listed all of them (in the song) There are a lot of things that I learned while I was writing this song, what am I giving attention to, what are parts that I want to show. That was the ‘answer’ to my ‘wonder’ in the song. 

Are there things that you are giving up to protect the love you are receiving right now?

Of course there are things that I have to give up and I actually do give them up. It is hard but I do believe it’s necessary. To maintain the love that I receive and the love I give. I believe I have to be aware of it and protect it. I don’t think I can pinpoint just one thing. 

To pull one answer, is it possible to put BTS and ARMY in a math equation?

Math is really hard for me. (Laugh) I find it the most difficult. So I don’t know things like equations well but I know the equal sign (=). ‘BTS=ARMY’ ‘ARMY=BTS’, it is the most ordinary, simple, and goes without saying but I think it’s the most important formula.

What does the album <Proof> mean to BTS?

Just looking back at the times we went through and the songs we have done would be meaningful. There are new things that I realized from parts that I have already known before. So it’s an album that is heavy but not burdening. I think it’s an album that came out at a perfect timing. While working on the album it gave me a strong feeling, ‘That’s what life is like, that’s how life seemed to be.”