BTS star V reveals hearing loss battle during livestream
The K-pop star says he has suffered hearing issues for over two years before revealing it publicly this week.
BTS member V, whose real name is Kim Tae-hyung, has been battling hearing loss in his left ear, he revealed during a livestream on Wednesday. This disclosure followed about two and a half years of dealing with the issue. The 30-year-old explained that his right ear's hearing was only around 30%, while his left ear's was at 100%.
During his military service, V's hearing condition worsened. However, he initially did not take it seriously, attributing it to mental strength. Now, he takes medication and visits the hospital regularly to manage his condition. All South Korean men are required to serve 18 months of mandatory military service, which included BTS members who took a break in 2022.
V joined the military in 2023 and was discharged in June 2025. The Arirang World Tour, which began in April in South Korea, marked the reunion of all seven BTS members after a hiatus. The livestream took place after the band concluded its concert in Baltimore, Maryland. Bandmate Jungkook also addressed his injury during the tour, expressing concerns about developing a stress fracture, and emphasized the importance of proper management to continue performing.
In the coming months, the tour will take BTS to various cities worldwide, including Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Bangkok, Sydney, and Hong Kong.
Written by urgent.news from BBC World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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