BTS member V says he has been dealing with hearing issues for more than two years<\/p>\n
V, a member of pop sensation BTS, says he has been receiving treatment for hearing loss in one ear, an announcement that comes midway through the band's highly-anticipated world tour.<\/p>\n
In a livestream on Wednesday, the 30-year-old said that he has dealt with the problem for about two and a half years. This was the first time he was revealing it to the band's fans, he said.<\/p>\n
"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.<\/p>\n
The band is currently on its first world tour in years, marking the reunion of all seven members since they went on a hiatus for mandatory military service.<\/p>\n
During the livestream, V said his hearing became worse when he was serving in the military.<\/p>\n
But he said he did not take it seriously at first, believing it to be "a matter of mental strength".<\/p>\n
He added he was now taking medication and going to hospital regularly.<\/p>\n
With rare exceptions, all able-bodied men are required to serve 18 months of military service in South Korea.<\/p>\n
This included BTS members, who were at the height of their fame in 2022 when they started taking career breaks to enlist in the military.<\/p>\n
V joined the military in 2023 and was discharged in June 2025.<\/p>\n
The Arirang World Tour, which kicked off in April in South Korea, marked the highly-anticipated reunion of the band's seven members.<\/p>\n
The livestream on Wednesday came after the band wrapped its concerts in Baltimore, Maryland.<\/p>\n
V was joined by his bandmate Jungkook, who talked about a shin injury he has been dealing with during the tour, saying he was "on the verge of developing a stress fracture".<\/p>\n
Jungkook added that he would have to manage his injury well in order to keep performing.<\/p>\n