BTS V: Global Enigma Who Goes Beyond K-Pop; DECODING Man Of The Hour - Kim Taehyung!

BTS

member V aka Kim Taehyung entered his 30s on December 30, and this was bound to be a celebratory moment for his massive fandom. It's a personal milestone in the K-pop idol's life and ARMY got another chance to show their love. From gifting him flowers and cards, to an entire airplane and a corner in The Palace of Versailles ‘château de Versailles’, the extremes to which his fans can go is unmeasurable. He recently hinted that India might be one of the pit stops for BTS' upcoming comeback world tour in 2026, desi ARMY went berserk. Why not, when it was being teased by Taehying himself? During a Weverse live, V first wished a "namaste" and then dropped the bomb!

A new V in 2025

Whatever V says or does is a building block in the happiness of his fans. Even when when he exited his military base, on June 10, 2025, alongside leader RM, internet broke. His smiling face holding two bouquets (one for RM who was busy playing saxophone) blew up social media. This was V's return to being a celebrity, leaving behind his soldier life. He trended at top slot for days on X (formerly Twitter) with hashtags like #WelcomeBackTaehyung. While ARMYs welcomed him with open arms, it was a new V who was completing his mandatory military term. V went on a hiatus as a young man and came out as a hunk. His regular glimpses into his workout sessions and muscular body was something no fan was expecting. V achieved the title of Sergeant Kim during his service proving there's more to his chiseled physique.

World's Most Handsome Man

V was ranked as The Most Handsome Man in the World 2025. The TechnoSports report highlighted that he surpassed Hollywood and Bollywood icons like Brad Pitt, Robert Pattinson, Chris Evans, and Hrithik Roshan to claim the top spot. In January this year, he was also crowned The Most Handsome Man in the World by Shining Awards, topping a poll of 50 male celebrities worldwide. Earlier, British Nubia Magazine ranked him first in its World's Most Handsome Men of 2024 poll, surpassing Justin Bieber, Robert Pattinson, and Rege-Jean Page. He ousted the likes of Justin Bieber and Billie Eilish in other rankings. V needs no much effort to break the internet. As one of the most influential stars, he does everything right and becomes the talk of town with even a single social media post. Such is his dominance among his massive fanbase and ARMYs, that the 29-year-old's dance routine with Lee Jung-Lee on the track Finatticz's’ Don't Drop That Thun Thun, the same day of his military discharge left fans recreating the viral 'Military Twins' trend on internet. He even broke TikTok record with 13.1 million likes on dance video within days.

BTS' richest member with $40 million net worth

V is BTS' member with the highest net worth. He built a massive fortune of around Rs 342 crore (US $40 million) through his journey that started with the band in 2013. He took off his solo career with a debut album Layover in 2023, a little before his military enlistment. The album emerged a hit and even reached the #2 spot on the Billboard 200 chart, proving his shine refuses to fade even when he's away from active music.

Even when he's in the background...

Unlike his BTS mates, V has not yet taken to the stage following his military discharge. While Jungkook and Jin joined J-Hope during his Hope On The Stage concert, Suga and J-Hope also accompanied PSY at his SUMMER SWAG 2025. V kept his presence to the audience, even during Jin's concert Run Seokjin. He flaunted his shirtless look hiding behind a mask. Still, his smile was visible through his twinkling eyes, enough to leave fans go berserk.

Social media monopoly

What makes V stand out from his other BTS bandmates? The fact that he gained over 300,000 new followers in a single day on Instagram and 1 million within a few days of his military discharge, making him the most followed BTS member with 68.1 billion (as of today) is proof of his ever growing fandom. No, his military term did not slow him down. Most of the times we see Korean celebs struggling to make a remarkable comeback, be it in music or onscreen after military. But V didn't have to try. He was going viral even weeks before his return. This was surging from the beginning of 2025 when he became the most searched K-pop star on Google in 75 out of 81 countries. He held the highest search volume from January to June 2025, even more than politicians and Hollywood stars across nations.

Benchmark of fashion influence

V's visit as a Celine brand ambassador at Paris Fashion Week has been trending ever since he landed in the city. Just sometime ago, he was spotted wearing a Cartier watch worth around Rs 12 lakh. He's a fashion influence that ensured the item sold out within minutes. Be it his caps or jackets, or even headphones, they all fly off the shelves in no time. He's the favourite face of luxury brands. Because if V wears it, the world wants it. His social media posts receive millions of likes even if he posts a blurred image. His broadcast live breaks records.

The global phenomenon

V knows how to stay relevant. Even during his military term, he wasn't completely aloof. He kept dropping little sneaks about his military life. His humble beginnings are relatable and continue to inspire his fans who believe if you put in your dedication, you can rule the world. No wonder in a Bollywood and cricket loving country like India that's slowly opening up to Korean content, here's one K-pop star who's already ruling hearts. V turns every stage into his own personal runway. And when he's behind the mic, his deep bass voice is heard with his group of seven members. Just Google his name, and there will be thousands of searches getting refreshed every passing minute.

Currently, he's the third most influential global celeb after Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, according to HypeAuditor ranking. He's ahead of Selena Gomez (4th) and Kendall Jenner (5th). His acting debut Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth (2016) continues to remain a fan favourite. V has crossed the boundaries of being a K-pop idol. He's way beyond that. He's a global phenomenon.