BTS’s J-Hope Mourns the Loss of His Grandmother

BTS’s J-Hope shared heartbreaking news during the group’s Tokyo Dome concert on April 17. The rapper revealed that his maternal grandmother passed away just as he landed in Japan for the ARIRANG world tour.

J-Hope opened up about receiving the sad news while with the BTS members, saying it helped him cope with the shock and grief. He grew emotional as he spoke about how his grandmother had always watched over them and would be proud of the group’s achievements.

“저는 사실 살짝은 무거운 이야기일 수도 있는데 그래도 오늘 기분을 표현을 해야될거 같아서 이야기를 하고 싶습니다
사실 일본 오자마자 저를 어렸을 때부터 키워주시는 우리 외할머니가 돌아가셨다는 소식을 접했어요 굉장히 좀 놀라고 물론 당황스러웠는데…”
— J-Hope, Tokyo Dome concert ending remarks, April 17, 2026

Fans quickly reacted with sympathy, recalling how J-Hope and his sister often spoke about being raised by their grandmother, who played a huge role in their lives.

“Hoseok, Jiwoo, and their cousins were raised by their grandmother, which created such a beautiful bond between them . As someone who was also raised by a loving grandmother and lost her during the global health crisis, the story Jiwoo shared about visiting hers truly touched my…”
— Fan tweet, September 1, 2025

This sad news has deeply moved fans worldwide. We send our condolences and hope J-Hope and his family find comfort during this difficult time.