Full Breakdown
BTS’s V Discloses Hearing Loss Amid “Arirang” World Tour
8/14/2026, 3:51:09 AM
Core Event
During a Weverse livestream on August 12, BTS member V (real name Kim Tae-hyeong) revealed that he has been receiving medical treatment for significant hearing loss in his right ear. He explained that the ear now functions at roughly 30 % of the capacity of his left ear, a condition he has lived with for about two and a half years. V said the problem worsened while he was serving South Korea’s mandatory military service, which began in December 2023 and ended on June 10, 2025. He added that he now takes medication and attends regular hospital appointments.
Background & Context
All seven BTS members paused group activities in 2022 to fulfill South Korea’s compulsory 18-month military service, a legal requirement for most able-bodied men. V enlisted in 2023 and was discharged in June 2025, rejoining the band for the “Arirang” world tour, the group’s first global trek in more than four years. The tour launched in April in South Korea and has since visited North America, with recent back-to-back concerts at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium on August 10 and 11. The itinerary continues to cities such as Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Bangkok, Sydney, and Hong Kong, and is scheduled to conclude on March 16, 2027 in the Philippines.
Data & Statistics
- Hearing capacity: left ear = 100 % (baseline); right ear ? 30 % (self-reported).
- Duration of issue: ~2.5 years (since roughly early 2022).
- Military service period: Dec 2023 – June 10, 2025.
- Tour schedule: 2024 – 2027, with North American leg already completed in Baltimore and upcoming stops in Arlington, Texas; Toronto; Chicago; and Los Angeles.
Official Statements & Responses
V’s own remarks, delivered during the livestream, framed the hearing loss as a health matter he is now actively managing. A BTS group spokesperson was unavailable for comment at the time of reporting, and no further official details about the medical diagnosis were released.
On-the-Ground Reports
Fans listening to the livestream expressed concern and support, noting the challenges singers face with auditory health.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources consistently report the same percentage figure (?30 % hearing in the right ear) and the same timeline for the onset of the issue. No source identified a specific medical cause, and no detailed prognosis was provided. The lack of a formal medical diagnosis remains a gap in public information.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There’s a lot of inflammation in my shin, and I think there’s some microdamage to the bone,” — V. Jungkook
- “My shin is right at the point just before a stress fracture. Even today on stage my heart was set on running around, but it hurt too much at points and I couldn’t.” — V. Jungkook
These quotes capture Jungkook’s description of his shin injury, illustrating the broader health context affecting BTS members during the tour.
