V of BTS biography: Kim Taehyung, from Layover to the Arirang tour

Few artists can say that their solo debut album sold more than two million copies in a week. V of BTS did it in 2023 with Layover, and in 2026 he returned to the stage alongside his six bandmates with the Arirang world tour. This is Kim Taehyung's journey: from his childhood in Daegu and his spell in acting to his return from military service and his present on BTS' biggest tour in seven years. Everything that follows comes from verifiable sources; what we could not confirm, we left out.

Who is V of BTS?

V, whose real name is Kim Taehyung, is a South Korean singer, songwriter and actor born on December 30, 1995 in Daegu. He has been a member of BTS since their debut in 2013 and a soloist since 2023, when he released the EP Layover. After completing his military service in June 2025, he returned with the group on the album Arirang (March 2026) and the world tour that comes with it.

V's personal details

V's childhood and early years

Kim Taehyung was born in the Seo district of Daegu, and is the eldest of three siblings: he has a younger brother and a younger sister, according to Wikipedia. He belongs to the Gwangsan Kim clan. He studied at the Korean Arts High School, from which he graduated in 2014, already as a member of BTS.

His path towards music had a curious twist: he arrived at the Big Hit agency as a “secret member”. His identity was kept under wraps until shortly before the group's debut, which took place on June 13, 2013 on Mnet's show M Countdown with the song “No More Dream”.

Academically, he completed a degree in Broadcasting and Entertainment at Global Cyber University in August 2020 and, from 2021, took an MBA in Advertising and Media at Hanyang Cyber University, according to Wikipedia.

V's professional career

Within BTS, V combined singing with acting and, as a soloist, explored R&B and pop with jazz touches. His verified milestones:

• 2013: Debuts with BTS on June 13 with “No More Dream”.
• 2016-2017: Acts in the drama Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth as Seok Han-sung and records “It’s Definitely You” with Jin for its soundtrack.
• 2018: Receives, along with the rest of BTS, the fifth-class Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit.
• 2020: His track “Sweet Night”, for the series Itaewon Class, debuts at number 2 on Billboard's Digital Songs chart.
• 2023: Releases Layover (September 8), which debuts at number 2 on the Billboard 200.
• 2024: Releases “Fri(end)s” and, with singer Park Hyo-shin, “Winter Ahead”.
• 2026: Returns with BTS on Arirang and the world tour.

With Layover, Hanteo Chart recorded 2.1 million copies in the first week, the highest figure for a K-pop soloist according to that outlet. The EP includes “Love Me Again”, “Rainy Days” and “Slow Dancing”.

V's standout works, shows and projects

In 2026 there is no new solo work confirmed: his documented musical activity is centred on the group's return.

Military service and return with BTS

V enlisted on December 11, 2023 and on February 8, 2024 was assigned to the Ssangyong unit of the 2nd Corps. He was discharged on June 10, 2025, a day before Jimin and Jung Kook, according to Wikipedia and Rolling Stone. During that period, in March 2025, he donated 200 million won through the Korean Red Cross to help those affected by wildfires.

The full group returned on March 20, 2026 with Arirang, their first studio album after almost four years since Proof (2022). The record has 14 songs and “Swim” was its lead single. According to Billboard and outlets that followed the chart, the album debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 with 641,000 units, the highest figure for a group album since Billboard started measuring units (December 2014). For more context about the septet, check the BTS biography here on Famosix.

V's personal life

At Famosix we prefer to focus on his work and respect his private life.

V trivia

• He was BTS' “secret member”: his face and name were revealed shortly before the 2013 debut.
• He completed a university degree in Broadcasting and Entertainment in 2020 and then enrolled in an MBA in Advertising and Media.
• His acting debut was in Hwarang (2016-2017), where he played Seok Han-sung.
• “Sweet Night”, written for Itaewon Class, reached number 2 on Billboard's Digital Songs chart.
• Layover (2023) is his first solo work and came out three months before he entered military service, in December of that year.
• His birthday, December 30, is almost the end of the year: just before 2026 closes he will turn 31.
• In 2018 he received, along with his bandmates, the Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit, a state distinction of South Korea.

V in 2026

2026 is the year of the return. V is part of Arirang, released on March 20, and of the world tour that started on April 9 in Goyang with 79 shows planned in 34 regions through to March 2027. The tour includes stops in Argentina, Peru and Colombia for the first time; Lima gets three concerts on October 7, 9 and 10, 2026 at the Estadio San Marcos, with tickets sold out.

On the commercial side, at the end of September 2026 he was announced as global ambassador for the technology brand Nothing for its Headphone (1) Pro campaign. There is no new solo release confirmed to date. If you are interested in the rest of the group, also look at the BTS biography.

Sources consulted

• Wikipedia: V (singer)
• Rolling Stone: BTS’ Jungkook and Jimin Discharged from Korean Military After RM and V
• Kpopbio: BTS in 2026, Comeback, Tour & Latest Updates
• Gulf News: BTS makes history with double No. 1s on Billboard charts
• Philstar Life: BTS’ V reveals he has been receiving treatment for hearing loss
• Music Week: BTS star V joins Charli xcx as global brand ambassador for Nothing
• Caretas: BTS en Perú: grupo surcoreano hace historia al agotar entradas para sus tres conciertos en Lima

Conclusion

V has built a career that combines group work with an identity of his own in R&B and jazz, and in 2026 he is back on stage with BTS' most ambitious tour. We will keep updating this article with every new development. In the meantime, get to know the rest of the septet in the BTS biography and discover other international figures on Famosix.