BTS' V Reveals Hearing Loss, Jungkook Opens Up About Near-Stress Fracture

Following their second sold-out show in Baltimore on August 11, BTS members Jungkook and V (Taehyung) went live on Weverse to talk with fans and share some of their latest updates from the road, including details about their health that had previously been kept private.

Currently on the North American leg of their "ARIRANG" World Tour, BTS has traveled across several cities since kicking off the leg on August 1. Throughout the tour, the members have continued to update ARMY whenever possible through their personal social media accounts and Weverse Lives, giving fans a glimpse into their time both on and off stage.

Back at their hotel following their latest Baltimore show, Jungkook and V spoke candidly about several topics. One of the main points of the livestream saw the members once again ask fans to respect their privacy and personal space when they are away from concert venues.

The pair explained that people had been entering gyms not to work out, but simply to watch them exercise, leaving the members increasingly uncomfortable.

"You shouldn't go to the gym and stare at someone. You can't do that! It's our private life," the members said, as V explained that they often train extremely late at night or early in the morning. "We trained at 2 in the morning and there were 20 people! Does that sound normal to you?"

As the livestream continued, the members also shared health updates that surprised many ARMYs, revealing issues that they had largely kept private.

V opened up about experiencing hearing loss in his left ear, sharing that his hearing has gradually deteriorated over the past two years to the point where he can now only hear at around 30% in that ear.

"I regularly take my medicine, but actually, it got worse during my military service," he shared. "The people there loved exercising a lot, so they often said things like, 'Everything depends on mental strength.' I even convinced myself for a while that it was a matter of mental strength."

Jungkook reassured him not to think that way and encouraged him to continue getting regular medical checkups, which V said he has been doing diligently. Jungkook then opened up about his own health, revealing that he has been dealing with shin splints that have progressed close to the point of a stress fracture.

"Even today, I wanted to keep running and jumping, but sometimes the pain gets so severe that I can't continue jumping, so I hope you all can understand that," he said. "I also want to recover quickly, but because of the nonstop concerts, it's hard for me to fully heal."

Despite joking that they had become regulars at the hospital due to their respective injuries, both Jungkook and V reassured ARMY that they are continuing to take care of themselves and intend to complete the tour safely.

The candid livestream offered a rare look at some of the physical challenges the members have been managing behind the scenes while continuing to perform throughout BTS' demanding world tour schedule. At the same time, their comments served as another reminder that the members' accessibility to fans does not erase the boundaries between their public lives as BTS and their private time away from the stage.

With the "ARIRANG" World Tour continuing across North America, Jungkook and V ultimately asked fans not to worry about their conditions, but their disclosures highlighted the importance of giving the members the space and time necessary to rest and recover as the tour continues.