V, a key member of the global K‑pop phenomenon BTS, revealed during a Wednesday livestream that he has been battling hearing loss in one ear for the last two and a half years.
\He explained that the scale for his two ears is uneven, with his left ear virtually at full hearing while the right ear is down to a 30‑point level.
\When prompted, V said his hearing deteriorated during his mandatory 18‑month military service, a period that was both physically and mentally demanding. Initially dismissing it as a “matter of mental strength,” he ultimately decided to seek treatment and now regularly visits a hospital and takes medication.
\The announcement came amid the recording of BTS’s highly‑anticipated Arirang World Tour, which marked the reunion of all seven members after their respective military enlistments. The tour, which began in Seoul last April, has already attracted fans at venues in Baltimore, and will soon take the group to cities around the globe.
\V’s bandmate Jungkook also appeared in the livestream, describing a shin injury that is threatening a stress fracture, adding that he must carefully manage the injury to keep performing.
\With upcoming stops slated for Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Bangkok, Sydney and Hong Kong, the world tour promises to be a landmark event for both the band and their worldwide fanbase.
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