BTS member V, whose real name is Kim Taehyung, is opening up about a health issue he has quietly dealt with for more than two years. The 30-year-old singer revealed during an August 12 livestream that he has significant hearing loss in one ear, with his hearing now functioning at roughly 30% compared with the other. His revelation comes as BTS continues its Arirang World Tour, which reunited all seven members following the completion of their mandatory military service.
BTS’ V Reveals He Has Been Struggling With Hearing Loss for Years
V gave fans a candid update on just how much his hearing has changed. “If my hearing on this ear is 100, the other ear can only pick up around 30,” V explained during the livestream, according to The Korea Times. “I think it’s been about two and a half years. My hearing has gotten worse.”
The singer said the problem dates back more than two years and became more noticeable while he was serving in South Korea’s military. V enlisted in 2023 and completed his service in June 2025.
V Says His Hearing Worsened During Military Service
V admitted he did not initially treat the problem with the seriousness it deserved.
“It got a little worse in the military, and since I was surrounded by people who exercised a lot, everyone said, ‘it’s a matter of mental strength,’” he explained. “After that, I kind of convinced myself that it was a matter of mental strength.”
He is taking a different approach now. According to BBC News, V told fans he is taking medication and attending regular hospital appointments as doctors work to manage the hearing problem.
The singer did not indicate that he plans to step away from BTS’ current tour.
BTS’ Jungkook Is Also Managing an Injury on Tour
V was not the only member to discuss a health concern during the livestream. Jungkook joined him and revealed that he had been dealing with a shin injury during the tour, according to the BBC.
He said the injury is approaching the point of becoming a stress fracture and will require careful management if he is to continue performing.
The updates come during a demanding stretch for BTS. According to NBC affiliate WBAL, the group launched its world tour in South Korea in April, marking the first time RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook had toured together since completing their respective military commitments.
After recently performing in Baltimore, the group has additional stops scheduled across several continents, including Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Bangkok, Sydney and Hong Kong.
BTS Returned to the Stage After Years Apart
The tour marks a major new chapter for one of the world’s biggest music groups, following several years largely focused on solo projects and military service. All seven BTS members began fulfilling South Korea’s mandatory service requirements beginning in 2022, temporarily putting full-group activities on hold at the height of their global success.
GettyV’s health disclosure now gives fans a glimpse at one of the challenges he has been navigating behind the scenes during that long-awaited reunion. For now, the singer appears focused on managing the condition medically while continuing to perform, after acknowledging that what he once dismissed as a matter of determination had become something he could no longer ignore.
