In the midst of a long-awaited reunion tour, BTS member V has quietly carried a truth that performers rarely speak aloud: for more than two years, his right ear has functioned at only thirty percent capacity, a condition that worsened during mandatory military service and was initially mistaken for a failure of will rather than a failure of the body. His public disclosure, made during a fan livestream this week, arrives at a moment when the world's attention is fixed on BTS's return — and quietly reframes that return as something more complex than triumph. It is a reminder that the human instr
BTS's V reveals two-year hearing loss battle during livestream
V has experienced significant hearing loss in one ear (70% reduction in right ear function) affecting his quality of life and professional performance.
His right ear operates at roughly 30 percent capacity
Mark
When did V first realize something was wrong with his hearing?
Mimi
He says it started during his military service, but he didn't take it seriously at first. He thought it was something he could push through mentally, not a physical problem that needed attention.
Mark
That's a striking detail—dismissing it as a matter of willpower. Why do you think he framed it that way?
Mimi
In military culture, there's often an emphasis on toughness and mental resilience. You're trained to push through discomfort. It's possible he applied that same mindset to something that actually required medical intervention.
Mark
How much has his hearing actually declined?
Mimi
His right ear is functioning at about 30 percent of normal capacity. So he's lost roughly 70 percent of hearing in that ear. His left ear is fine, but that imbalance creates real challenges for a vocalist.
Mark
What made him decide to tell fans now, in the middle of a tour?
Mimi
He didn't say explicitly, but it's worth noting this is their first tour back together after years apart. Maybe there's something about being back on stage, performing at this level, that made it impossible to keep hiding.
Mark
Is he the only one dealing with injuries?
Mimi
No. Jungkook mentioned a shin injury that's been affecting him throughout the tour. He said he's close to developing a stress fracture. So there's a pattern here of physical costs.
Mark
What does this mean for his future as a performer?
Mimi
That's the open question. He's getting treatment, but hearing loss doesn't typically reverse. He'll have to adapt—learn to work with what he has, adjust how he monitors himself on stage. It's a long-term adjustment.
El Pulso
- V's right ear has lost seventy percent of its function — a staggering deficit for a vocalist whose craft depends on hearing himself and his bandmates in real time.
- He spent the early stages of his hearing decline in military service, convincing himself the problem was a matter of mental weakness rather than physical damage, which delayed his path to treatment.
- Bandmate Jungkook simultaneously revealed he is performing on the edge of a stress fracture in his shin, suggesting the tour is unfolding under a quiet but serious burden of injury.
- Both disclosures surfaced not through press releases or medical statements, but through an unguarded livestream with fans — a format that stripped away the usual management of celebrity narrative.
- The Arirang World Tour continues despite these conditions, raising urgent questions about what the entertainment industry asks of its performers and what safeguards, if any, exist to protect them.
In the midst of a long-awaited reunion tour, BTS member V has quietly carried a truth that performers rarely speak aloud: for more than two years, his right ear has functioned at only thirty percent capacity, a condition that worsened during mandatory military service and was initially mistaken for a failure of will rather than a failure of the body. His public disclosure, made during a fan livestream this week, arrives at a moment when the world's attention is fixed on BTS's return — and quietly reframes that return as something more complex than triumph. It is a reminder that the human instrument, however celebrated, is still subject to the same fragilities as any other.
V, the 30-year-old BTS member, revealed this week during a fan livestream that he has been living with significant hearing loss in his right ear for over two years — a condition he had never publicly acknowledged until now. His right ear functions at roughly thirty percent capacity compared to his left, a disparity that carries profound implications for a working vocalist.
The deterioration began during his mandatory military service, but V did not initially read it as a medical crisis. He attributed the early symptoms to a lack of mental fortitude and pushed through, a mindset that persisted until the condition worsened enough to demand treatment. The disclosure comes midway through the Arirang World Tour, BTS's first full reunion since all seven members completed their military enlistments — one of the most anticipated returns in K-pop history.
V was not the only one speaking honestly about his body that evening. Jungkook described a shin injury that has followed him throughout the tour, placing him dangerously close to a stress fracture. Together, the two revelations painted a picture of artists performing at the highest level while quietly managing conditions that would sideline many others.
What makes V's disclosure particularly striking is its candor about duration and misunderstanding — he did not simply announce an injury, but traced the arc of how he failed to recognize it, then lived with it, then chose to name it publicly. As the tour continues in the months ahead, his performances will carry this new context: a musician doing the work his art demands, with only half the hearing most would consider the bare minimum.
V, the 30-year-old member of BTS, disclosed during a livestream this week that he has been managing hearing loss in his right ear for more than two years—a condition he had never publicly discussed until now. Speaking candidly to fans, he described the severity of the problem with stark precision: while his left ear functions at full capacity, his right ear operates at roughly 30 percent. The revelation came midway through the band's first world tour in years, a reunion tour that marks the return of all seven BTS members following their mandatory military service.
The hearing deterioration began during his time in the military, V explained, but he did not initially recognize it as a serious medical issue. Instead, he dismissed the early signs as something he could overcome through sheer willpower—a matter of mental fortitude rather than physical damage. That mindset shifted as the problem worsened, and he eventually sought treatment. The timing of his disclosure is notable: BTS, one of the world's largest music acts, had taken a collective career break starting in 2022 when members began enlisting for their mandatory military service. The Arirang World Tour, which began in April in South Korea, represents their full reunion and has been one of the most anticipated returns in K-pop.
V was not alone in addressing health challenges during the livestream. His bandmate Jungkook also spoke about an ongoing shin injury that has plagued him throughout the tour, describing himself as being on the edge of developing a stress fracture. These disclosures underscore the physical toll that performing at the highest levels of the music industry can exact, particularly during grueling world tour schedules. For V, the hearing loss adds a layer of complexity to his work as a vocalist and performer—a profession that depends entirely on auditory precision and the ability to hear oneself and bandmates in real time.
The decision to reveal the condition publicly, rather than keeping it private, signals a shift in how major artists are addressing health struggles. V's openness about both the duration of his condition and his initial misunderstanding of its severity humanizes the experience of living with a chronic health issue while maintaining a demanding career. It also raises broader questions about occupational health in the entertainment industry: how common are such injuries among performers, what preventive measures exist, and how do artists manage their conditions while continuing to work at peak levels?
As BTS continues its world tour, V's revelation adds context to his performances and the band's overall narrative. The reunion itself was significant—a moment fans had anticipated for years. Now, that reunion is also a story about artists returning to work while managing health challenges that developed during their time away. The tour, which will continue through the coming months, will proceed with this new understanding of what some of its members are carrying with them on stage.
Citas Notables
If the hearing in my left ear is at 100, it's only about 30 in my right— V, during a livestream
He initially believed the hearing loss was a matter of mental strength— V, reflecting on his early response to the condition
Quieres la nota completa?
Lee el original en BBC ↗
War & Conflict