V says one ear hears at roughly 30% as he undergoes treatment during BTS’s world tour

BTS star V has revealed that he has been receiving treatment for serious hearing problems in one ear, telling fans that the issue has affected him for around two and a half years.

The 30-year-old singer, whose real name is Kim Tae-hyung, spoke about his condition during a livestream on Wednesday with fellow BTS member Jungkook. It was the first time he had publicly shared the problem with fans.

V explained the difference between his ears in stark terms. He said that if the hearing in his left ear were measured at 100, his right ear would be at roughly 30.

The disclosure came as BTS continues its Arirang World Tour, the group’s first major world tour since all seven members reunited after completing their mandatory military service.

V said the hearing problem began about two and a half years ago and became worse while he was serving in the South Korean military. He admitted that he did not initially treat the issue with the seriousness it deserved, saying he had come to believe it was something he could overcome through mental strength.

He has since sought medical help. V told viewers that he is taking medication and attending hospital regularly as he continues treatment.

The singer enlisted for military service in 2023 and was discharged in June 2025. His service formed part of the wider pause in BTS’s group activities as members stepped away from their careers to fulfil South Korea’s mandatory service requirements.

South Korea requires most able-bodied men to complete military service, with limited exceptions. The requirement affected every member of BTS at a time when the group was one of the world’s biggest music acts. Members began taking career breaks for enlistment in 2022, and their eventual return as a full group created intense anticipation around the tour.

The group’s current tour marks a major return for BTS after that period apart. The Arirang World Tour began in South Korea in April and has taken the seven members back onto stages together around the world.

V’s revelation came after BTS completed concerts in Baltimore, Maryland. His health was not the only concern discussed during the livestream.

Jungkook also spoke about a shin injury that has been troubling him during the tour. He said he was close to developing a stress fracture and would need to manage the problem carefully if he wanted to continue performing.

The singer said the injury had affected him physically while on stage, making careful management necessary as the tour moves forward.

For fans, the livestream offered an unusually personal glimpse into the physical difficulties two members are facing during one of the group’s most significant touring periods in years.

V’s comments were particularly striking because he had kept the hearing problem private throughout the period in which it developed and worsened. He is now receiving regular medical care while continuing to perform with the group.

BTS still has a lengthy international schedule ahead. The tour is due to take the band to several major cities in the coming months, including Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Bangkok, Sydney and Hong Kong.

Despite the health issues raised in the livestream, both V and Jungkook indicated that they are continuing to manage their conditions while remaining part of the tour.

For V, the disclosure brings a previously unknown health struggle into public view after more than two years. For Jungkook, the challenge is protecting an injured shin while continuing a demanding run of performances.

Their comments have put a new focus on the physical strain behind BTS’s long-awaited return to the global stage.