On Friday, April 17, 2026, BTS member J-Hope announced the passing of his maternal grandmother during the group’s concert at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. The announcement came as part of the first night of their two-day Arirang concert series, where he shared the news directly with fans in attendance.
According to multiple verified reports, J-Hope revealed that he received the news shortly after arriving in Japan for the concert series. Speaking from the stage, he described his grandmother as the one who raised him from childhood and emphasized her unwavering pride in his accomplishments with BTS.
The artist shared his emotional response to the loss, stating he was initially in shock but found comfort in being with his bandmates, sharing meals, and focusing on rehearsals. He expressed his belief that his grandmother would have been proud of the group’s performance and would have enjoyed every moment of the show had she been able to watch from above.
J-Hope concluded his remarks by thanking the audience for their support, noting that their presence made his first performance following the loss particularly meaningful. The announcement was made during the ongoing global tour in support of BTS’s album ARIRANG, which had recently achieved its third week at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
Prior to the Tokyo concert, the group had completed three opening shows in Goyang, South Korea. The tour schedule indicated plans for subsequent legs across North America, Latin America, Europe, Australia, and additional Asian regions, with the tour expected to conclude in March 2027.
On the same day as the Tokyo Dome concert, J-Hope participated in a one-on-one interview with Rolling Stone, where he discussed his role within BTS. In that conversation, he described his leadership function within the group as something that comes naturally, though he expressed discomfort with formally labeling it as a “role.”
The news of his grandmother’s passing was met with an outpouring of support from fans worldwide, who flooded social media with messages of condolence and solidarity using hashtags related to J-Hope and BTS. Many fans cited his openness about the loss as a powerful moment of connection between the artist and his audience.
As of the date of the announcement, no further details regarding funeral arrangements or public memorial plans have been disclosed by J-Hope or his representatives. The focus has remained on honoring his grandmother’s memory through his continued work and public tributes.
For ongoing updates on BTS’s tour schedule and official statements, fans are encouraged to refer to the group’s verified social media channels and website.
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