V (singer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
V
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
V in May 2022
|
|
| Born |
Kim Tae-hyung
December 30, 1995 Daegu, South Korea
|
| Alma mater | Global Cyber University |
| Occupation |
|
| 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
|
| Hanja |
金泰亨
|
| RR | Gim Taehyeong |
| MR | Kim T'aehyŏng |
| Stage name | |
| Hangul |
뷔
|
| RR | Bwi |
| MR | Pwi |
| Signature | |
 |
|
Kim Tae-hyung (Hangul: 김태형; born December 30, 1995), known as V (Hangul: 뷔), is a South Korean singer and songwriter. He became famous in 2013 as a member of the popular K-pop boy band BTS. V has released several solo songs as part of BTS's albums, including "Stigma" (2016), "Singularity" (2018), and "Inner Child" (2020). All these songs were very 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 and sang a song for its soundtrack called "It's Definitely You." In 2019, he released his first independent song, "Scenery," which he wrote himself. In 2023, V officially debuted as a solo artist with singles like "Love Me Again" and "Rainy Days." His first solo album, Layover, came out on September 8, 2023, along with another single, "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 and is the oldest of three children. He has a younger brother and sister.
V first dreamed of becoming a singer when he was in elementary school. With his father's encouragement, he started taking saxophone lessons in middle school to help him pursue a music career. He later joined Big Hit Entertainment as a trainee 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. As of 2021, he has been studying for a master's degree at Hanyang Cyber University.
Music Career
Joining BTS
_at_the_Jeonju_Vivid_Rock_Festival_in_August_2013_02.jpg)
Before BTS officially debuted, V was kept a "secret member." Fans did not know about him because his agency wanted to surprise everyone. V later shared that this made him feel lonely at the time. He worried he might not be part of the group.
On June 13, 2013, V officially debuted as a member of BTS on a TV show called M Countdown. They performed their song "No More Dream" from their first album, 2 Cool 4 Skool. V first helped write music for BTS's album The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 1 (2015). He co-wrote and produced "Hold Me Tight" and also 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 co-wrote and composed his first solo song, "Stigma," for BTS's 2016 album Wings.
In May 2018, V's second solo song, "Singularity", was released. It was a trailer for BTS's album Love Yourself: Tear. The song was played on UK radio and was praised by music critics. The Guardian and Billboard both listed it among their top songs. Many critics loved "Singularity" and included it on their year-end lists.
On October 24, 2018, V and his BTS bandmates received the Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit medal. This award was given by the President of South Korea, Moon Jae-in. It recognized their important role in spreading Korean culture around the world.
V and bandmate J-Hope worked with Swedish singer Zara Larsson on the song "A Brand New Day." This song was for the soundtrack of the BTS World mobile game. It became number one on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart. V later worked with bandmate Jimin on the song "Friends." This song was even used in the 2021 Marvel movie Eternals. He also helped write his third solo song, "Inner Child," for BTS's 2020 album Map of the Soul: 7.
In July 2021, V and his bandmates were named Special Presidential Envoys for Future Generations and Culture. This means they helped South Korea's president with global issues and diplomacy.
Solo Activities
_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's 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, on the BTS SoundCloud page. V wrote and composed this ballad and even took the photo for its cover. 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 all-English song. He also released a music video for it on BTS's YouTube channel. He co-produced the song and took the cover photo himself.
In 2020, V sang the indie pop song "Sweet Night" for the soundtrack of the drama Itaewon Class. This song was released on March 13 and was written and produced by V. It 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" with Peakboy. Another holiday song, "Christmas Tree," followed in December 2021. It was part of the soundtrack for the TV series Our Beloved Summer. "Christmas Tree" became V's first solo song to enter 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. The show aired from July to August. In February 2023, he was in another reality series, the Prime Video cooking and travel show Jinny's Kitchen, with Park Seo-joon and Choi.
In March 2023, 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. Later, Seoul Tourism announced V as the honorary tourism ambassador of Seoul for 2023.
His independent songs "Scenery," "Winter Bear," and "Snow Flower" were officially released on digital platforms on August 28, 2023. This was before his debut solo album Layover came out on September 8. Layover sold over 2.1 million copies in its first week, setting a new record for a K-pop solo artist. It also reached number two on the Billboard 200 chart in the US. In December 2023, Compose Coffee announced V as their brand ambassador. The single "Wherever U R" by UMI featuring V was also released in December 2023.
Artistry and Performance
V is known for his deep, baritone singing voice. Critics often praise his vocal range and "husky" tone. His performance of "Stigma" especially showed off his high notes and unique musical style. His song "Singularity" was noted for setting the tone of BTS's Love Yourself: Tear album. Many critics have called it one of V's best vocal performances. V's music style is greatly influenced by his love for jazz and classical music.
As a performer, V is famous for his "duality." This means he can show many different emotions on stage. A British journalist noted V's movements during his "Singularity" performance were "precise and deliberate." Another critic mentioned how V uses live cameras during concerts to create subtle expressions.
Impact and Influence
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 on Google search trends in the K-pop industry showed that "V" was the most searched keyword in South Korea for five years. In a survey by Gallup Korea, V was chosen as the fourth most-liked idol in 2019. 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.
Personal Life
Since 2018, V has lived in Hannam-dong, Seoul, South Korea, with his bandmates.
Health
In October 2018, during a concert in Paris, V had trouble singing due to an illness. He had to skip some of his parts during the show. In October 2021, V's agency announced that he would not be able to do all the dance moves during their Permission to Dance on Stage concerts. This was because of a calf injury, so he remained seated while singing.
Philanthropy
In March 2025, V donated 200 million Korean Won (about $150,000 USD) through the Korean Red Cross. This donation helped with recovery efforts after wildfires in the Ulsan, Gyeongbuk, and Gyeongnam regions.
Military Service
.jpg)
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 began his service on December 11, 2023. After completing his training, he was assigned to the 'Ssangyong Unit' of the 2nd Corps on February 8, 2024. He served in the Special Task Force of the Military Police Corps. V was officially discharged from the military on June 10, 2025.
Discography
Studio Albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR |
CAN |
FRA |
GER |
ITA |
JPN |
JPN Hot |
NZ |
UK Dig. |
US |
||||
| Layover |
|
1 | 39 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
|
|
Singles
As Lead Artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR |
KOR Billb. |
CAN |
HUN |
JPN Hot |
NZ |
UK |
US |
US World |
WW |
||||
| "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 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Itaewon Class Original Soundtrack | |
| "Snow Flower" (featuring Peakboy) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — |
|
non-album single | |
| "Christmas Tree" | 2021 | 18 | 25 | 82 | 1 | 29 | — | — | 79 | — | 51 | Our Beloved Summer Original Soundtrack | |
| "Love Me Again" | 2023 | 22 | 7 | 91 | — | 76 | — | — | 96 | 1 | 12 |
|
Layover |
| "Rainy Days" | 56 | 21 | — | — | 91 | — | — | — | — | 16 |
|
||
| "Slow Dancing" | 24 | 9 | 60 | — | 26 | 38 | 24 | 51 | — | 4 |
|
||
| "Fri(end)s" | 2024 | 101 | — | 38 | — | 38 | 22 | 13 | 65 | — | 5 |
|
non-album single |
| "Winter Ahead" (with Park Hyo-shin) |
70 | 23 | — | — | — | — | 86 | 99 | — | 33 |
|
||
| "White Christmas" (Remix) (with Bing Crosby) |
180 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 93 | — | 72 |
|
||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart, were not eligible to chart, or were not released in that region. | |||||||||||||
As Featured Artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN Dig. |
JPN Dig. |
NZ Hot |
UK Dig. |
US Dig. |
WW |
||||
| "Wherever U R" (Umi featuring V) |
2023 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 99 |
|
Non-album single |
Other Charted Songs
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales | 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" (Instrumental) (with Park Hyo-shin) |
— | — | — | — | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album songs | ||
| "Winter Ahead" (Silent Carol version) (with Park Hyo-shin) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
|
||
| "White Christmas" (Remix Instrumental) (with Bing Crosby) |
— | — | — | — | 23 | — | — | — | — | — |
|
||
| "Winter Ahead" (Yun Seok-cheol Trio version) (with Park Hyo-shin) |
— | — | — | — | 24 | — | — | — | — | — |
|
||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart, were not eligible to chart, or were not released in that region. | |||||||||||||
Other Songs
| Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "95 Graduation" | 2014 | Jimin | Non-album releases | |
| "4 O'Clock" | 2017 | RM |
Writing Credits
All song credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association's (KOMCA) database unless noted otherwise.
| 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 | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Singularity Comeback trailer" | 2018 | Yong-seok Choi (Lumpens) | V sings and dances in a dark space with white masks. He is also seen with flowers and thorns, and interacts with water. At the end, V wears a white mask with a black tear. | |
| "Winter Bear" | 2019 | V | A video with a retro feel, showing V exploring Los Angeles, New York, Paris, and London. It includes shots of animals, landscapes, and buildings taken by V himself. | |
| "Sweet Night" | 2020 | Unknown | Features scenes from the TV show Itaewon Class. V does not appear in the video, but his singing is heard. | |
| "Christmas Tree" | 2021 | Features footage of Choi Woo-shik and Kim Da-mi from Our Beloved Summer. V does not appear in the video, but his singing is heard. | ||
| "Love Me Again" | 2023 | Filmed in a cave in Mallorca. V sings while wearing sparkly clothes, surrounded by old TV screens showing the song lyrics. | ||
| "Rainy Days" | Shin Dongle | V spends a "gloomy" day alone at home in his old-fashioned apartment. He is shown relaxing, cooking with his dog watching, and drawing. | ||
| "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 pet dog, Yeontan. | |||
| "Blue" | A black and white video where V searches for someone. He knocks on an apartment door and tries to find a spare key. He looks sad when his search is unsuccessful. | |||
| "For Us" | Shows behind-the-scenes clips from the music videos for "Love Me Again," "Rainy Days," "Slow Dancing," and "Blue." It looks 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 while other couples argue. 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's album Wings.
Filmography
_Dispatch_Photo_Shoot_LA_(4).png)
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Show! Music Core | Himself | Host, with Kim So-hyun | |
| 2015 | Music Bank | Host, with Park Bo-gum and Himchan of B.A.P | ||
| 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) credited | Director | Description | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Love Wins All" | 2024 | IU | Um Tae-hwa | Set in a world after a disaster, where people are hunted by floating Cubes. IU and V play a couple hiding in a mall. They find a camcorder that shows them a happier reality. The video ends with them being chased by a Cube. |
Awards and Nominations
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee(s)/work(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| 2025 | Best Music - Winter | "Winter Ahead" | 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 | ||
| Music Awards Japan | 2025 | Special Award: Oshi-Katsu Request Artist of the Year | V | 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 | ||
| SEC Awards | 2024 | Asian Asian Artist of the Year | V | Won | |
| 2024 | International Album of the Year Award | Layover | 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 | |
| Universal Superstar Awards | 2024 | Universal Super Artist | V | Won | |
| Top Ten Awards | 2025 | Best Solo Idol (Male) | V | Won |
State Honors
| Country or Organization | Year | Honor or Award | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Tax Service Gyeonggi-do | 2022 | Conscientious taxpayer from Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do |
World Records
| Publication | Year | World record | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
-
V in May 2022
-
V in August 2013
-
V in Kobe, Japan during The Most Beautiful Moment in Life On Stage Tour, March 23, 2016
-
V in a photoshoot for D Icon magazine, November 2017.
-
V on June 10, 2025
See also
In Spanish: V (cantante) para niños
