Let’s take a moment to appreciate the absolute dedication of Jung Hoseok, aka J-Hope, who, during his mandatory military service, ran himself into a new pair of legs just to earn one extra day off. No, seriously. While the rest of us might fake a cough to skip work, Hobi ran nearly 10 kilometers a day—voluntarily. For a full. Freaking. Month.
If that’s not the most “Hope on the Street but make it Army-grade cardio” thing ever, we don’t know what is.
Hobi vs. the Mileage Marathon
So here’s what went down: During a recent appearance on the Korean variety show Point of Omniscient Interference (aka The Manager), J-Hope finally spilled about his time in the military. He enlisted on April 18, 2023, and was discharged on October 17, 2024. And while he clearly took service seriously, he also saw a golden opportunity—a program that offered soldiers extra leave… if they ran for it.
Literally.
Originally, if a soldier ran 800 km, they could score five days off. But during Hobi’s time, the rule changed: 500 km = one day off. Most people would say, “Not worth it.” J-Hope? Said nothing—he just tied his shoelaces and took off.
He ran close to 10 kilometers a day to hit that 500 km goal. All for that one precious day of freedom. Let that sink in: That’s more effort than half the fitness industry puts in all year.
The Calves That Launched a Thousand Questions
As you’d expect, running like that every day gave J-Hope calves of steel. And when he finally earned his glorious one-day leave and went home, his mom took one look at his legs and said, “What exactly happened to you?!”
Honestly? Valid.
According to Hobi, his calf muscles bulked up so much that even he got self-conscious. Which led to the next phase of his transformation: yoga-ring therapy. That’s right—he started using a yoga ring to slim his legs back down. The goal? Balance his dancer aesthetic with his new army-built muscle. Because even when J-Hope is serving his country, he’s still committed to the ✨visuals✨.
Two months before his discharge, he began focusing on toning those calves down—and by the time he returned to civilian life, he was back in form: a little stronger, a little leaner, and a whole lot more legendary.
And Then He Dropped Three Singles. Because Why Not?
You’d think someone who just ran half a marathon every week and served in the military for 18 months might take a break. Not J-Hope.
Post-discharge, he came back swinging with not one, not two, but three singles:
- “Sweet Dreams” featuring Miguel
- “Mona Lisa”
- “Killin’ It Girl” featuring GloRilla
He also wrapped up his first solo tour, Hope on the Stage, which ran from February 28 to June 14, 2025, supporting both his debut album Jack in the Box and his EP Hope on the Street Vol. 1.
So to recap: he ran like a marathon champ, survived basic training, toned his legs with yoga gear, then came back and dropped bangers, performed worldwide, and never missed a beat.
Are we even surprised? This is J-Hope. Excellence is the baseline.
Final Thoughts: Hoseok, Human Sunbeam and Secret Olympian
Let’s just acknowledge how completely, unapologetically extra this is—in the best way. J-Hope ran 500 km in the military not to flex (okay, maybe a little), but because he’s wired to give 110% in everything he does. Whether it’s a world tour, a street dance, or a one-day leave from the barracks—he shows up, commits, and shines.
His dedication, humor, self-awareness (yes, even about his calves), and that unstoppable drive? It’s everything we love about him, wrapped up in one ridiculous, wholesome, and awe-inspiring story.
TL;DR:
- J-Hope served in the military from April 2023 to October 2024
- To earn one day off, he ran 500 kilometers, doing about 10 km per day
- His intense running routine gave him thick calf muscles, which freaked out his mom
- He used a yoga ring to slim them down before discharge
- After returning, he released three singles and completed a solo tour
- Moral of the story: J-Hope is incapable of doing anything halfway—and we love him for it 💜
Now excuse us while we lace up our sneakers and pretend we’re running for a fraction of that motivation. Or not. We’ll just stream “Mona Lisa” from the couch instead.
