BTS Star V Reveals Hearing Loss During World Tour

Published: 13 August 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

BTS star V has revealed that he has been receiving treatment for hearing loss in one ear, sharing the news with fans during a livestream as the South Korean group continues its long-awaited world tour.

The 30-year-old singer, whose real name is Kim Tae-hyung, said he had been experiencing the problem for around two and a half years. His disclosure was the first time he had publicly discussed the condition with BTS fans.

During the livestream, V described a substantial difference between his hearing in the two ears. He said that if hearing in his left ear were considered 100, his right ear would be at about 30.

The revelation came midway through BTS’s first major world tour in several years, making the timing particularly significant for fans who have been eagerly following the group’s return to the international stage.

V said his hearing deteriorated while he was serving in the South Korean military. At first, however, he did not treat the problem as a serious medical issue.

He explained that he initially believed it was largely a question of mental strength and did not immediately seek the level of medical attention he now receives.

That approach has since changed. V told fans that he is currently taking medication and regularly visiting hospital for treatment.

His comments offered a rare glimpse into a personal health challenge that he had kept private while continuing his career and preparing for BTS’s return to the stage.

The disclosure also comes at a demanding period for the singer and his bandmates. BTS are currently performing around the world as part of the Arirang World Tour, their first major tour following the completion of the members’ mandatory military service.

The group’s reunion has been one of the most anticipated moments in global pop music. BTS began taking career breaks to allow its members to fulfil their military obligations at a time when the group was already one of the world’s biggest musical acts.

In South Korea, most able-bodied men are required to complete military service, normally lasting around 18 months. BTS members were not exempt from the requirement despite their international fame.

V entered military service in 2023 and was discharged in June 2025.

The period away from group activities created a lengthy gap for BTS fans, who had become accustomed to seeing the seven members perform together across international stages.

The Arirang World Tour, which began in South Korea in April, represents the return of the complete group and has generated substantial attention among fans worldwide.

V’s latest disclosure has added a more personal dimension to the tour. While the singer has continued performing despite his hearing difficulties, his comments suggest that managing his health is now an important part of his professional routine.

Hearing loss can have different causes and degrees of severity, and V did not publicly provide a specific diagnosis or explain what caused the difference between his ears. He also did not indicate that his condition had prevented him from performing.

His decision to discuss treatment and regular hospital visits, however, highlights the importance of managing health problems while maintaining a demanding performance schedule.

For performers, hearing is particularly significant. Singers and musicians rely heavily on their ability to hear vocals, instruments and monitoring systems while performing live. Changes in hearing can therefore present practical challenges during rehearsals and concerts.

V’s comments are also likely to resonate with fans who may themselves be living with hearing difficulties or other conditions that are not immediately visible to others.

The singer did not present his experience as a reason to abandon his tour. Instead, his comments suggested that he is working with medical professionals while continuing his commitments to BTS.

His bandmate Jungkook also spoke about a physical health concern during the same livestream.

Jungkook said he had been dealing with a shin injury and was close to developing a stress fracture. He explained that he would need to manage the problem carefully in order to continue performing throughout the tour.

The two revelations came as BTS completed concerts in Baltimore, Maryland.

The comments from both singers demonstrate the physical demands placed on artists undertaking large international tours. Such tours involve repeated performances, long-distance travel, rehearsals and demanding choreography, often across multiple countries within a relatively short period.

For BTS, the workload is particularly significant because the current tour follows several years in which the seven members were unable to perform together on a regular basis.

The group’s return has been closely followed not only by its established fanbase but also by the wider global music industry.

BTS helped establish K-pop as a dominant force in international popular culture, achieving major chart success, record-breaking streaming figures and sold-out concerts across the world.

Their reunion has therefore been viewed as an important moment for both the group and the wider K-pop industry.

The Arirang World Tour is scheduled to take BTS to numerous international destinations in the coming months, including Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Bangkok, Sydney and Hong Kong.

Those performances will place further demands on the members, making health management an important consideration as the tour progresses.

For V, his decision to speak publicly about his hearing loss may also change how fans understand some of the challenges he has faced away from the stage.

Celebrities frequently maintain strict privacy around medical matters, particularly when they are performing under intense public scrutiny. V’s choice to share his experience therefore represents a notable departure from that privacy.

At the same time, he offered relatively limited medical information, leaving many details about the condition unknown.

There has been no indication from V that his hearing problem will prevent him from completing the tour. His comments instead focused on the treatment he is receiving and the importance of continuing to monitor the condition.

The singer’s revelation also underlines the pressures BTS members have faced during their transition from global superstars to military personnel and back again.

The group reached extraordinary levels of fame before its members began their mandatory service. Their individual military commitments subsequently separated them from the collective career that had defined much of the previous decade.

V’s military service lasted until June 2025, after which the members gradually returned to music activities.

The current tour has provided fans with the opportunity to see all seven members together again, but it has also demonstrated that returning to a demanding performance schedule after a prolonged break comes with physical challenges.

Jungkook’s injury and V’s hearing treatment are reminders that the highly polished performances seen by audiences are supported by considerable physical preparation and medical management.

For fans, V’s disclosure is likely to generate concern, but his comments also indicate that he is actively receiving treatment.

Rather than allowing the issue to remain hidden, he chose to explain his situation directly to supporters. That openness may help reduce speculation while giving fans a clearer understanding of what he has been managing.

The disclosure also reinforces the importance of seeking professional medical advice when hearing changes persist rather than assuming they are temporary or simply a matter of willpower.

V’s own account suggests that he initially underestimated the problem, only later moving towards regular treatment and medical supervision.

As BTS continue their international tour, attention will remain focused on both the group’s performances and the wellbeing of its members.

The return of all seven singers has been celebrated as a major milestone for BTS and their global fanbase. But V’s comments demonstrate that behind the spectacle of a world tour are individual health challenges that performers must manage while meeting enormous professional expectations.

For now, V remains committed to treatment and to performing with his bandmates. His decision to speak about his hearing loss has offered fans a rare insight into the personal difficulties that can exist behind the public image of one of the world’s biggest music groups.

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