V, a member of the globally renowned K-pop group BTS, disclosed in a livestream on Wednesday, August 13th, 2026, that he has been receiving treatment for hearing loss in his right ear. The 30-year-old, whose real name is Kim Tae-hyung, said he has been dealing with the issue for about two and a half years but only revealed it publicly for the first time during the livestream.

"If the hearing in my left ear is at 100, it's only about 30 in my right," V stated. He explained that his hearing worsened during his mandatory military service in South Korea, which requires 18 months of service for able-bodied men, though he initially did not take the condition seriously, believing it to be "a matter of mental strength."

The announcement came as BTS is in the midst of their first world tour in years, marking the reunion of all seven members following their hiatus for military service. The livestream followed the band's concerts in Baltimore, Maryland.

V was joined by fellow BTS member Jungkook, who shared that he has been managing a shin injury during the tour and is "on the verge of developing a stress fracture."

Sources