Two BTS members revealed they have been dealing with medical issues throughout the K-pop group’s “Arirang” world tour.
V and Jungkook, both of whom performed with BTS for three sold-out concerts at Stanford Stadium in May, opened up about their struggles during a recent livestream on Weverse, a global fan community platform.
“If the hearing in my left ear is at 100, it’s only about 30 in my right,” V said on Wednesday, Aug. 12, following BTS’ two back-to-back shows at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
V, whose real name is Kim Tae-hyung, went on to explain that his hearing worsened while he was serving in the military. At first, he thought it was “a matter of mental strength,” but he said he is now taking medication and regularly going to the hospital.
Meanwhile, Jungkook, who also made an appearance on Wednesday’s livestream, confessed he has been dealing with an injury as well.
“There’s a lot of inflammation in my shin, and I think there’s some microdamage to the bone,” said Jungkook, whose real name is Jeon Jeongguk, noting his shin is “on the verge of developing a stress fracture.”
Fans may have noticed that Jungkook has had to perform a few shows on the “Arirang” tour seated, which he’s done to alleviate pressure on the injury.
“I’ll be careful with myself so I can finish this tour properly,” he added, assuring fans that he plans to continue performing through the end of the tour.
The group’s U.S. leg concludes Sept. 6, after four shows at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood (Los Angeles County). The K-pop group is then set to bring the show abroad to South America, the South Pacific, Australia and Hong Kong before wrapping up in the Philippines on March 16.
BTS launched its current tour in Goyang, South Korea in April, its first since 2022. The occasion marked the band’s long-awaited musical return after all seven members completed mandatory military service.
“Arirang” was released in March, the group’s first full record since 2020’s “Be.”
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This article originally published at BTS member reveals hearing loss issues following Bay Area ‘Arirang’ concerts.