BTS‘s Jhope made a significant public appearance on October 23, 2024, when he threw the first pitch at the rescheduled Game 2 of the Korean Series at Gwangju KIA Champions Field. The game was originally supposed to be finally played on October 22, but it had been postponed because of heavy rain – so when Jhope made his highly-anticipated appearance he sent ARMYs into a frenzy.
Jhope Throws First Pitch at Korean Series Game
For Jhope, this event is particularly special as it will be his first public engagement since he completed his military service on October 17. The event also served to remind people of his close connections with Gwangju, where he was born and raised. Jhope has long expressed his affection for both the city and the KIA Tigers, even referencing them in BTS’s song “Ma City,” where he raps lines like, “I’m Jeollanam-do Gwangju baby,” and “I put KIA in and start the engine and bounce like crazy.” The event became a celebration of his roots rather than just a baseball game.
Jhope throwing the first pitch is also a notable moment for BTS as a group. While Jungkook had a ceremonial appearance in Japan in 2017, this is the first time a BTS member has thrown a ceremonial pitch in South Korea. Fans from all around the world tuned in to watch a TVING live broadcast, especially on Afreeca TV’s SOOP platform.
His presence was especially exciting for KIA Tigers fans, who believed he could bring good luck to their team, affectionately referring to him as Seungyo or “victory fairy.” The ceremonial pitch only served to add history and electricity for others as the KIA Tigers are facing off with Samsung Lions in a rescheduled Korean Series.
This was something special for fans as they simultaneously praised their beloved K-pop star and hometown pride, making this appearance back on the public stage a celebratory milestone in Jhope’s journey since returning from military service.
