Becoming a K-pop fan in general, or an ARMY in particular, means your calendar is packed with anniversaries throughout the year, each tied to memorable milestones of the group and its members. On these days, the fandom becomes even more lively than usual, with fans celebrating across social media—and often in real life, too.
Some anniversaries are well-known within the fandom: BTS’s debut day, the release of their first album, the day they won their very first Daesang, or of course, the birthdays of each member.
However, there are also anniversaries that were never officially designated, yet have grown into cherished annual traditions between artists and fans. Even soмєтнing as small as an inside joke or a funny story revealed during an interview can turn into a date fans mark on their calendars and celebrate year after year.
Recently, on August 16, some fans celebrated what they call “j-hope’s Day”! At first glance, it might seem confusing—after all, this date isn’t his birthday, which is on February 18. But in fact, “j-hope’s Day” is very real, and it’s a day specially dedicated to him by none other than SUGA! The story behind this unusual anniversary dates back years, and both fans and j-hope himself have acknowledged and commemorated it over time.
The origins of “j-hope’s Day” go back to BTS’s 2016 New Year’s greeting calendar and notebook, where SUGA personally wrote it down and gave special “instructions” for how to celebrate. Among the listed holidays and events of the year, he marked August 16 as a day to wake up and shout j-hope’s name: "Right as I open my eyes (from my sleep), I wake up as I yell ‘j-hope!".
Interestingly, when SUGA released his first mixtape Agust D, it also happened to drop exactly on “j-hope’s Day.” Clearly, he was serious about dedicating this date to his younger brother in the group.
SUGA also has a legendary moment that shows just how much he adores j-hope. During one performance, when the members were watching j-hope’s irresistibly charismatic dance, SUGA couldn’t stop shouting out his name. While the rapper gleefully kept calling ‘j-hope!’ and the rest of the members burst into laughter, the man of the hour himself looked adorably shy.
On the other hand, j-hope himself seems to recognize the date as well. In August 2023, just before completing his military leave, he posted several selfies as though he were celebrating his “special day.” Whether or not SUGA actually woke up shouting “j-hope” remains a mystery, but ARMYs definitely did—flooding social media with his name in excitement over the photos.
For many, j-hope’s playful gesture brought comfort during the long months when BTS members were separated by military service. Countless comments poured in, like: "August 16th is both suga’s day and j-hope’s day, which makes august 16th officially sope’s dayj-hope-themed tech accessories", "That’s sweet of him ! I miss my SOPE so much", "Happy j-hope day !! HAPPY SOPE DAY", "Aww. Yoongi loves his sunshine vitamin", "My beloveds sope. I wish they can celebrate their day together soon", "Hobi came home on j hope/ sope day", "Right as I open my eyes I yell "J-HOPE" bro me too you ain't special", "And Hobi showed up that day. I'm so sobbed because of my SOPE", "I love their strong and cute bond, j-hopeeeeeeeeeee", "Shout out for j-hope and SUGA. Their friendship made me admire so much", He likes shouting j-hopeeeeee much. Everyone all knows", "So honored that i share bday with this event",...
This year, ARMYs once again carried on the tradition, trending hashtags for “j-hope’s Day.” While some newer fans may not have known the story behind it, revisiting and sharing this quirky history ensures that August 16 won’t be forgotten anytime soon.Becoming a K-pop fan in general, or an ARMY in particular, means your calendar is packed with anniversaries throughout the year, each tied to memorable milestones of the group and its members. On these days, the fandom becomes even more lively than usual, with fans celebrating across social media—and often in real life, too.
