BTS Member V Opens Up About Two‑Year Hearing Loss Battle
K‑pop superstar V (real name Kim Tae‑hyung) revealed he has been receiving treatment for hearing loss in one ear for more than two‑and‑a‑half years. The disclosure came during a live‑stream broadcast from Baltimore, Maryland, midway through the band’s highly‑anticipated global tour.
“If the hearing in my left ear is at 100, it’s only about 30 in my right,” V told his fans, describing a profound imbalance between his left and right ears.
The hearing issue first worsened during his mandatory military service in South Korea, a period in which many K‑pop artists must pause their careers. V was admitted to the military in 2023 and discharged in June 2025.
Though he initially dismissed the problem as “a matter of mental strength,” V now regularly visits hospitals and takes medication to manage his condition.
The Arirang World Tour, which began in April 2024, has taken the group—reuniting all seven members after a hiatus—to cities worldwide, including Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Bangkok, Sydney, and Hong Kong.
During the livestream, V was joined by bandmate Jungkook, who discussed a shin injury that threatens to develop into a stress fracture. Jungkook stresses the importance of managing his injury to keep performing for the packed crowds on the tour.
The conversation underscores the physical demands placed on touring musicians—an echo of ancient traditions that value careful listening and bodily harmony. The band’s experience with V’s hearing battle highlights the universal challenge of sustaining health in the pursuit of artistic ambition.
