A member of the Korean boy band BTS has revealed that he has been experiencing hearing loss for more than two years.
Thirty-year-old V said he has been receiving medical treatment for the condition during a livestream on Wednesday on the fan platform Weverse.
V, who was accompanied by another BTS member, Jungkook, said his condition worsened during his military service.
“I’ve never told ARMY about this before, but I think it’s been about two and a half years. My hearing has gotten worse,” V said, referring to the official name of the band’s fandom.
“If one ear is at about 100, I can only hear about 30 with the other,” the 30-year-old said.
The announcement came midway through the band’s highly anticipated “Arirang World Tour”, which is underway through March next year.
“It got a little worse in the military, and since I was surrounded by people who exercised a lot, everyone said, ‘It’s a matter of mental strength’. After that, I kind of convinced myself that it was a matter of mental strength.”
“You shouldn’t do that,” another BTS band member, Jungkook, responded to V.
Jungkook himself revealed that he was dealing with a shin injury that was close to a “stress fracture”, with significant inflammation and suspected micro-damage to the bone.
Despite the pain affecting his performance, he said he planned to manage the injury carefully so he could complete the tour safely and successfully.
“I’m going to the hospital regularly,” V said.
V enlisted in the military in 2023 and completed his service in June 2025.
In South Korea, all able-bodied men, aged 18 to 28, are legally required to complete 18 to 21 months of military service, under a conscription system designed to deter aggression from neighbouring North Korea.
Fans of the boy band responded with concern to the news. One wrote on a Reddit thread: “Hearing loss can be so debilitating. I’m hoping after tour, V and the rest of the boys can take care of themselves and focus on their health & wellness.”
Another wrote: “That sucks. I know singers are already susceptible to hearing issues, like Phil Collins and Chris Martin having tinnitus, but having that and going through a mandatory service that involves practice with guns, also loud noises, must suck.”
Over the coming months, BTS will take their first world tour in four years to cities across the globe, including Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Bangkok, Sydney and Hong Kong.
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