V (singer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
V
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V in May 2022
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| Born |
Kim Tae-hyung
December 30, 1995 Daegu, South Korea
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| Education | Korean Arts High School Global Cyber University |
| Occupation |
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| Honours | _ribbon.PNG){kind=small} Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit (2018) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Labels | Big Hit |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul |
김태형
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| Hanja |
金泰亨
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| Revised Romanization | Gim Taehyeong |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kim T'aehyŏng |
| Stage name | |
| Hangul |
뷔
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| Revised Romanization | Bwi |
| McCune–Reischauer | Pwi |
| Signature | |
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Kim Tae-hyung (Hangul: 김태형; born December 30, 1995), known as V (Hangul: 뷔), is a South Korean singer and songwriter. He is a member of the famous boy band BTS. Since joining the band in 2013, V has released three solo songs: "Stigma" (2016), "Singularity" (2018), and "Inner Child" (2020). All of these songs were popular in South Korea.
Beyond his work with BTS, V also started acting. He appeared in the 2016 TV show Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth. He also sang a song for the show's soundtrack called "It's Definitely You". In 2019, he released his first independent song, "Scenery", which he wrote himself. V officially started his solo music career in 2023. He released singles like "Love Me Again" and "Rainy Days". His first solo album, Layover, came out on September 8, 2023. It included another hit song, "Slow Dancing".
Contents
Early Life and School
V was born Kim Tae-hyung on December 30, 1995, in Daegu, South Korea. He grew up in Geochang County. He is the oldest of three children, with a younger brother and sister.
V first dreamed of becoming a singer when he was in elementary school. His father supported him, and V started taking saxophone lessons in middle school to help him pursue music. He later became a trainee at Big Hit Entertainment after a successful audition in Daegu.
After finishing Korean Arts High School in 2014, V went to Global Cyber University. He graduated in August 2020 with a degree in Broadcasting and Entertainment. In 2021, he continued his studies at Hanyang Cyber University.
V's Music Journey
Starting with BTS in 2013
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Before BTS officially debuted, V was a "secret member." Fans didn't know about him because his agency wanted to surprise everyone. He later said this made him feel lonely because he worried he might not be part of the group. On June 13, 2013, V officially debuted as a member of BTS. They performed their song "No More Dream" from their first album, 2 Cool 4 Skool.
V first helped write music for BTS on their 2015 album, The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 1. He co-wrote and produced "Hold Me Tight" and wrote lyrics for "Fun Boyz". For their next album, The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 2, V's melody was used for the song "Run". He also wrote and composed his first solo song, "Stigma," for BTS' 2016 album Wings.
In May 2018, V's second solo song, "Singularity", was released. It was a trailer for BTS' album Love Yourself: Tear. Many music critics praised "Singularity" for its unique sound and V's singing.
On October 24, 2018, V and the other BTS members received the Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit medal. This award was given by the President of South Korea, Moon Jae-in, for their efforts in spreading Korean culture around the world.
V and bandmate J-Hope worked with Swedish singer Zara Larsson on "A Brand New Day". This song was for the BTS World mobile game soundtrack. It became a number one hit on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart. V also worked with Jimin on the song "Friends," which was later used in the 2021 Marvel movie Eternals. He also helped write his third solo song, "Inner Child," for BTS' 2020 album Map of the Soul: 7.
In July 2021, V and his bandmates were named Special Presidential Envoys for Future Generations and Culture by South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Their role was to help lead global discussions for future generations and strengthen South Korea's standing in the world.
Solo Projects and Acting
_at_The_Mood_For_Love_Concert_in_Kobe_in_March_2016_03.jpg)
In 2016, V started his acting career in the historical drama Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth. He used his real name, Kim Tae-hyung, for this role. He also sang a duet called "It's Definitely You" with bandmate Jin for the show's soundtrack. To celebrate BTS' fourth anniversary, V released "4 O'Clock" on June 8, 2017. He co-produced this song with bandmate RM.
V released his first independent song, "Scenery," on January 30, 2019, through the BTS SoundCloud page. V wrote and composed this ballad and even took the photo for its cover art. The song quickly became very popular, reaching 100 million streams in just over two weeks. Seven months later, V released his second solo song, "Winter Bear," which was his first song entirely in English. He also directed its music video, which was posted on BTS' YouTube channel.
In 2020, V sang the indie pop song "Sweet Night" for the soundtrack of the drama Itaewon Class. This song, which he wrote and produced, was well-received and debuted at number two on Billboard's Digital Songs chart in the United States. On December 25, he released a Christmas song called "Snow Flower" featuring Peakboy. Another holiday song, "Christmas Tree," followed in December 2021 for the TV series Our Beloved Summer. This song became V's first solo entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, reaching number 79.
In 2022, V appeared in the Disney+ reality series In the Soop: Friendcation. He starred alongside his friends Peakboy, Park Seo-joon, Choi Woo-shik, and Park Hyung-sik. In February 2023, he was in another reality show, Jinny's Kitchen, a cooking and travel show on Amazon Prime Video. The next month, V became a brand ambassador for the Indonesian company SimInvest and a global ambassador for the French luxury brand Celine. In July, he also became a brand ambassador for Cartier.
His independent songs "Scenery," "Winter Bear," and "Snow Flower" were officially released on digital music platforms on August 28, 2023. This happened just before his first solo album, Layover, was released on September 8. Layover set a new record for K-pop solo artists, selling 2.1 million copies in its first week. In the US, it reached number two on the Billboard 200 chart, making V one of the highest-charting Korean solo artists.
V's Artistic Style
V is known for his deep, "husky" baritone singing voice. Critics often praise his wide vocal range. His performance of "Stigma" especially showed off his unique voice and high notes. On the song "Singularity," his voice was noted for setting the mood for the entire album. Many people have said that V's lower vocal range is a key part of BTS's music. V's music style is greatly influenced by his love for jazz and classical music.
As a performer, V is known for his "duality." This means he can show many different emotions on stage. During the Love Yourself: Speak Yourself World Tour, his movements during "Singularity" were described as very "precise and deliberate." V is also good at using cameras during concerts to create subtle expressions.
V's Influence and Popularity
V created the phrase "I purple you" during a BTS fan meeting in November 2016. Since then, the color purple has become a special symbol for BTS and their fans. UNICEF even used this phrase in their anti-bullying campaign with BTS.
In 2018, a study showed that "V" was the most-searched keyword related to K-pop in South Korea for five years. In a survey by Gallup Korea, V was chosen as the fourth most-liked idol in 2019, moving up from ninth place in 2018. In 2021, he was the most popular Korean celebrity in Japan for 28 weeks in a row.
Many other artists have said that V is an inspiration and a role model for them. These include members from groups like The Boyz, Golden Child, Ateez, and Tomorrow X Together.
V's Personal Life
Since 2018, V has lived in Hannam-dong, Seoul, South Korea, with his bandmates. In July 2019, he bought his own apartment.
Health Updates
In October 2018, during a concert in Paris, V had some difficulty singing due to an illness. In October 2021, his agency announced that he would not be able to do all the choreography during their Permission to Dance on Stage concerts because of a calf injury. He remained seated while singing during those shows.
Military Service
On November 22, 2023, Big Hit announced that V, along with bandmates RM, Jimin, and Jungkook, had started the process for their mandatory military service. He officially enlisted on December 11, 2023. After completing his training, he was assigned to the Special Task Force of the Military Police Corps on February 8, 2024.
Discography
Studio Albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR |
CAN |
FRA |
GER |
ITA |
JPN |
JPN Hot |
NZ |
UK Dig. |
US |
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| Layover |
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1 | 39 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
Singles
As Lead Artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR |
KOR Billb. |
CAN |
HUN |
JPN Hot |
NZ Hot |
UK |
US |
US World |
WW |
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| "It's Definitely You" (Hangul: 죽어도 너야) (with Jin) |
2016 | 34 | — | — | 15 | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth Original Soundtrack |
| "Scenery" (Hangul: 풍경) | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | non-album single |
| "Winter Bear" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Sweet Night" | 2020 | 14 | 19 | — | 1 | — | 34 | — | — | — | — | Itaewon Class Original Soundtrack |
| "Snow Flower" (featuring Peakboy) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | non-album single | |
| "Christmas Tree" | 2021 | 18 | 25 | 82 | 1 | 29 | 6 | — | 79 | — | 51 | Our Beloved Summer Original Soundtrack |
| "Love Me Again" | 2023 | 22 | 7 | 91 | — | 76 | 5 | — | 96 | 1 | 12 | Layover |
| "Rainy Days" | 56 | 21 | — | — | 91 | 7 | — | — | — | 16 | ||
| "Slow Dancing" | 24 | 9 | 60 | — | 26 | 5 | 24 | 51 | — | 4 | ||
| "Fri(end)s" | 2024 | 101 | — | 38 | — | 38 | 1 | 13 | 65 | — | 5 | non-album single |
| "Winter Ahead" (with Park Hyo-shin) |
70 | 23 | — | — | — | 4 | 86 | 99 | — | 33 | ||
| "White Christmas" (Remix) (with Bing Crosby) |
180 | — | — | — | — | 13 | — | 93 | — | 72 | ||
| "—" means the song did not chart or was not released in that area. | ||||||||||||
As Featured Artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN Dig. |
JPN Dig. |
NZ Hot |
UK Dig. |
US Dig. |
WW |
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| "Wherever U R" (Umi featuring V) |
2023 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 99 | Non-album single |
Other Charted Songs
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR |
KOR Hot |
CAN Dig. |
HUN |
JPN Dig. |
JPN Hot |
UK Dig. |
US Dig. |
US World |
WW |
|||
| "Stigma" | 2016 | 26 | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | 22 | 1 | — | Wings |
| "Intro: Singularity" | 54 | 10 | 40 | 23 | — | 34 | — | 44 | 1 | — | Love Yourself: Tear | |
| "Inner Child" | 2020 | 24 | 19 | 30 | 7 | — | — | 22 | 9 | 1 | — | Map of the Soul: 7 |
| "Blue" | 2023 | 144 | — | 22 | — | 13 | 100 | 89 | 12 | — | 89 | Layover |
| "For Us" | 151 | — | 27 | — | 15 | — | 85 | 49 | — | 113 | ||
| "Slow Dancing" (Piano version) | — | — | — | — | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Slow Dancing" (FNRK remix) | — | — | — | — | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | Slow Dancing (Remixes) | |
| "Slow Dancing" (Cautious Clay remix) | — | — | — | — | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Fri(end)s" (Instrumental) | 2024 | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | Fri(end)s (Remixes) |
| "Fri(end)s" (Sped Up) | — | — | — | — | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Fri(end)s" (Slowed Down) | — | — | — | — | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Winter Ahead" (Silent Carol version) (with Park Hyo-shin) |
— | — | — | — | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album songs | |
| "Winter Ahead" (Instrumental) (with Park Hyo-shin) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "White Christmas" (Remix Instrumental) (with Bing Crosby) |
— | — | — | — | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Winter Ahead" (Yun Seok-cheol Trio version) (with Park Hyo-shin) |
— | — | — | — | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "—" means the song did not chart or was not released in that area. | ||||||||||||
Other Songs
| Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "95 Graduation" | 2014 | Jimin | Non-album releases |
| "4 O'Clock" | 2017 | RM |
Writing Credits
V has helped write many songs. Here are some of them:
| Song | Artist(s) | Album | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| "4 O'Clock" | RM and V | Non-album releases | 2017 |
| "95 Graduation" | Jimin and V | 2014 | |
| "Blue & Grey" | BTS | Be | 2020 |
| "Boyz with Fun" | BTS | The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Part 1 | 2015 |
| "Hold Me Tight" | BTS | The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Part 1 | 2015 |
| "In the Soop" | BTS | Non-album release | 2020 |
| "Inner Child" | BTS | Map of the Soul: 7 | 2020 |
| "Introduction: Youth" | BTS | Youth | 2016 |
| "Outro: Circle Room Cypher" | BTS | 2 Cool 4 Skool | 2013 |
| "Run" | BTS | The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Part 2 | 2015 |
| "Run" (Alternative Mix) | BTS | The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever | 2016 |
| "Run" (Ballad Mix) | BTS | The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Young Forever | 2016 |
| "Scenery" | V | Non-album releases | 2019 |
| "Snow Flower" | V and Peakboy | 2020 | |
| "Stigma" | BTS | Wings | 2016 |
| "Sweet Night" | V | Itaewon Class Original Soundtrack | 2020 |
| "Winter Bear" | V | Non-album release | 2019 |
Videography
Music Videos
| Title | Year | Director(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Singularity Comeback trailer" | 2018 | Yong-seok Choi (Lumpens) | V sings and dances in a dark room with theater masks. He also appears with flowers and thorns, and interacts with water. |
| "Winter Bear" | 2019 | V | A video with clips of V exploring cities like Los Angeles and Paris during BTS' tour. It includes shots of animals and landscapes taken by V. |
| "Sweet Night" | 2020 | Unknown | Features scenes from the show Itaewon Class. V's voice is heard, but he does not appear in the video. |
| "Christmas Tree" | 2021 | Features footage from the show Our Beloved Summer. V's voice is heard, but he does not appear in the video. | |
| "Love Me Again" | 2023 | Filmed in a cave in Mallorca. V sings in shiny clothes, surrounded by old TV screens showing the lyrics. | |
| "Rainy Days" | Shin Dongle | V spends a "gloomy" day at home. He is shown relaxing, cooking with his dog, watching cartoons, and working in his art studio. | |
| "Slow Dancing" | V goes on a road trip with friends to a sunny beach. They swim, dance, and watch the night sky from a yacht. The video ends with V and his dog, Yeontan. | ||
| "Blue" | A black and white video where V searches for someone. He knocks on an apartment door and makes phone calls, but gets no answer. He looks for a spare key and then sits on a swing, looking sad. | ||
| "For Us" | This video shows outtakes and behind-the-scenes moments from V's other music videos, made to look like an old home video. | ||
| "Fri(end)s" | 2024 | Samuel Bradley | V is shown alone, then surrounded by happy couples. He gets hit by a car. The video then repeats, but this time V is with his girlfriend, and the other couples are fighting. He gets hit by a car again and wakes up next to himself. |
- V also appeared in BTS Wings Short Film #3 Stigma, a short film released in September 2016 to promote BTS' fourth album Wings.
Filmography
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Television Shows
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Show! Music Core | Himself | Host, with Kim So-hyun |
| 2015 | Music Bank | Host, with Park Bo-gum and Himchan | |
| Show! Music Core | Host, with Zico and Kim So-hyun | ||
| 2016 | Celebrity Bromance | Season 1, episodes 1–4; with Kim Min-jae | |
| Inkigayo | Host, with J-Hope, Moonbyul, and Wheein | ||
| 2016–2017 | Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth | Seok Han-sung | Supporting role |
| 2017 | Music Bank (Singapore Special) | Himself | Host, with Park Bo-gum and Irene |
| Inkigayo Super Concert in Daejeon | Host, with Jisoo and Jinyoung | ||
| 2022 | In the Soop: Friendcation | Cast member | |
| 2023 | Jinny's Kitchen | Prime Video exclusive series; cast member | |
| Jinny's Kitchen: Team Building |
Music Video Appearances
| Title | Year | Other Performer(s) | Director | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Love Wins All" | 2024 | IU | Um Tae-hwa | In a world where people are hunted by floating Cubes, IU and V play a couple on the run. They find a camcorder that shows them a happier reality. The video shows them pretending to have a romantic dinner and taking wedding photos before they are found by a Cube. |
Awards and Recognitions
| Award Ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee(s)/Work(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APAN Star Awards | 2020 | Best OST | "Sweet Night" | Won |
| 2022 | "Christmas Tree" | Nominated | ||
| Asia Artist Awards | 2023 | Popularity Award – Actor | V | Nominated |
| Popularity Award – Male Singer | Nominated | |||
| Circle Chart Music Awards | 2024 | Artist of the Year – Album | Layover | Nominated |
| DDU Korean Drama Awards | 2022 | Best OST | "Christmas Tree" | Won |
| The Fact Music Awards | 2023 | Best Music – Fall | "Slow Dancing" | Won |
| 2024 | Best Music - Spring | "Fri(end)s" | Won | |
| Hanteo Music Awards | 2024 | Artist of the Year | V | Won |
| Global Artist Award – Africa | Won | |||
| Global Artist Award – Europe | Won | |||
| Global Artist Award – Asia | Nominated | |||
| Global Artist Award – North America | Nominated | |||
| Global Artist Award – Oceania | Nominated | |||
| Global Artist Award – South America | Nominated | |||
| iHeartRadio Music Awards | 2024 | Favorite Debut Album | Layover | Won |
| Korea First Brand Awards | 2024 | Male Idol Variety Star | V | Won |
| Korea Grand Music Awards | 2024 | Trend of the Year K-pop Solo | V | Won |
| MAMA Awards | 2022 | Best OST | "Christmas Tree" | Nominated |
| Song of the Year | Nominated | |||
| 2023 | Album of the Year | Layover | Longlisted | |
| Artist of the Year | V | Longlisted | ||
| Best Male Artist | Nominated | |||
| Best Vocal Performance – Male Solo | "Love Me Again" | Nominated | ||
| Song of the Year | Longlisted | |||
| 2024 | Fans' Choice Top 10 - Male | V | Won | |
| Melon Music Awards | 2017 | Best OST | "It's Definitely You" | Nominated |
| 2023 | Millions Top 10 | Layover | Nominated | |
| Seoul International Drama Awards | 2022 | Outstanding Korean Drama OST | "Christmas Tree" | Nominated |
| Soompi Awards | 2018 | Best Idol Actor | V | Won |
| 2019 | Best Choreography | "Singularity" | Won | |
| Seoul Music Awards | 2024 | Main Award (Bonsang) | V | Won |
| Fan Choice of the Year | Won | |||
| Hallyu Special Award | Nominated | |||
| Popularity Award | Nominated | |||
| UK Music Video Awards | 2024 | Best Pop Video – International | "Fri(end)s" | Nominated |
State Honors
| Country or Organization | Year | Honor or Award |
|---|---|---|
| National Tax Service Gyeonggi-do | 2022 | Conscientious taxpayer from Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do |
World Records
| Publication | Year | World Record |
|---|---|---|
| Guinness World Records | 2021 | Fastest time to reach 1 million followers on Instagram |
| Fastest time to reach 10 million followers on Instagram |
Images for kids
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V in May 2022
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V in August 2013, when BTS first started.
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V performing in Kobe, Japan, in March 2016.
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V in a photoshoot for D Icon magazine, November 2017.
See also
In Spanish: V (cantante) para niños
