BTS member J-Hope is making history once again — and this time, it’s in Japan!

On April 19, three of Japan’s biggest sports newspapers — Sports Hochi, Daily Sports, and Nikkan Sports — all featured J-Hope on their front pages with special editions dedicated to his solo concert, j-hope Tour ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE’ in JAPAN.

This marks the first time ever that a K-pop solo artist received three major newspaper special editions at the same time. Talk about legendary!

Fans in Japan were so excited that they rushed to convenience stores near the Saitama Super Arena, where the concert was being held, just to grab a copy. The newspapers quickly sold out, proving J-Hope’s huge popularity.

This concert was also extra meaningful for fans because it was J-Hope’s first visit to Japan in about 2 and a half years — his last being the 2022 MAMA AWARDS in November 2022.

The newspaper articles focused on J-Hope’s Saitama concerts, his global journey as a solo artist, and his newest tracks like “Sweet Dreams (feat. Miguel)” and “MONA LISA.” They also included a sweet message from him to fans before his big solo stage in Japan.

The concerts on April 19 and 20 at Saitama Super Arena were completely sold out, and J-Hope gave it his all.

He lit up the stage with his powerful vocals, smooth moves, and signature energy. Fans couldn’t take their eyes off him!

During the concert, J-Hope said, “It’s been a really long time since I came to Japan. Being able to be here with so many of you made me feel truly happy again. I’ll carry this love I feel from ARMY in my heart and work hard for the rest of my shows.”

J-Hope kicked off his solo world tour in Seoul this past February. So far, he’s performed for around 178,000 fans across six cities in North America — and now he’s continuing to spread hope in Asia.

Next up? J-Hope will take over Kyocera Dome Osaka with concerts on May 31 and June 1. Get ready, Japan — Hobi’s just getting started!

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SBS’s Running Man is still going strong — and Song Ji Hyo and Kim Jong Kook are once again stealing the spotlight!

The April 20 episode ranked No.1 in its time slot for the 2049 demographic (ages 20 to 49), scoring a solid 2.4% in ratings and peaking at a whopping 5.4% during its most exciting moment, according to Nielsen Korea.

This week’s episode had fans laughing non-stop with the theme Merchants’ War: Earn or Go Home. The cast split into two teams: Yoo Jae Suk’s team and Kim Jong Kook’s team, and each group had to sell items through a live auction.

While Yoo Jae Suk’s team created laughs with Ji Suk Jin’s wig adventures, it was Kim Jong Kook’s team — and especially Song Ji Hyo — who stole the show.

While out on their mission, CEO Song Ji Hyo impressed everyone with her smart business mindset. “You have to sell it with the mindset of ‘I want to buy this for myself,’” she said confidently. Kim Jong Kook was clearly impressed, saying, “You talk like a real CEO.”

But the moment that sent viewers (and cast members) into shock came right after — Song Ji Hyo suddenly called Kim Jong Kook yeobo, which means “honey” in Korean, usually used between married couples or lovers.

The members went wild at her unexpected words. Ji Hyo quickly tried to explain, “I meant to say yeoboseyo,” which means “hello” on the phone — but the moment was already iconic.

Fans online couldn’t get enough of the chemistry between the two stars, with many calling it the “highlight” of the episode.

Later on, Kim Jong Kook’s team offered a hilarious “tumbler + 4-member photo booth” bundle to win over the production team in an auction.

Although most of the bids ended up lower than expected, their team eventually won the final round thanks to a lucky roulette spin. Meanwhile, Yoo Jae Suk’s team had to smash a clay pot as punishment.

As always, Running Man delivered big laughs, unexpected moments, and just a bit more fuel for those who love the Song Ji Hyo x Kim Jong Kook “love line.”

Fans are now wondering — was it really a slip of the tongue, or is there something more?

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