BTS member V has revealed that he has been receiving treatment for hearing loss in his right ear, making the announcement midway through the band’s world tour.
During a livestream on Wednesday, the 30-year-old singer said he had been dealing with the problem for about 2.5 years. He said this was the first time he had disclosed the condition to the band’s fans.
“If the hearing in my left ear is at 100, it’s only about 30 in my right,” said V, whose real name is Kim Tae-hyung.
V said his hearing worsened while he was serving in the military. He said he initially did not take the problem seriously, believing it was “a matter of mental strength”.
He added that he is now taking medication and visiting the hospital regularly.
The band is currently on its first world tour in years, following the reunion of all 7 members after a hiatus for mandatory military service.
With rare exceptions, all able-bodied men in South Korea are required to complete 18 months of military service. BTS members began taking career breaks to enlist in 2022, when the group was at the height of its fame.
V joined the military in 2023 and was discharged in June 2025.
The Arirang World Tour kicked off in April in South Korea and marks the reunion of all 7 BTS members. The livestream came after the band completed concerts in Baltimore, Maryland.
V was joined by bandmate Jungkook, who discussed a shin injury he has been dealing with during the tour. Jungkook said he was “on the verge of developing a stress fracture”.
He added that he would have to manage the injury carefully to continue performing.
In the coming months, the tour will take BTS to cities including Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Bangkok, Sydney and Hong Kong.
