V (singer)

Kim Tae-hyung, known professionally as V, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, and actor. He is best known as a member of the South Korean boy band BTS, which debuted in 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment. Beyond his group activities, V has established a solo career across music, television, and international brand partnerships.

Born on December 30, 1995, in the Seo District of Daegu, South Korea, V grew up in Geochang County as the eldest of three children. Inspired to become a singer during elementary school, he began learning the saxophone in middle school to pursue a career in music. After passing an audition in Daegu, he joined Big Hit Entertainment as a trainee. He graduated from Korean Arts High School in 2014, completed his undergraduate studies in Broadcasting and Entertainment at Global Cyber University in 2020, and later enrolled at Hanyang Cyber University for graduate studies in Advertising and Media.

V debuted with BTS on June 13, 2013. Within the group's discography, he first earned musical composition credits in 2015. He went on to release three solo tracks under BTS's name—"Stigma" (2016), "Singularity" (2018), and "Inner Child" (2020)—all of which achieved chart success in South Korea. Known musically for his baritone vocal range and jazz-influenced style, his performances have earned critical praise for their emotional range and control.

Outside of BTS, V made his acting debut in the 2016 historical television series Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth and contributed to its soundtrack alongside his bandmate Jin. He released his first independent self-composed song, "Scenery," in 2019 via SoundCloud, followed by self-produced tracks including "Winter Bear" and "Snow Flower." He also recorded soundtrack singles for various television series, such as "Sweet Night" for Itaewon Class and "Christmas Tree" for Our Beloved Summer, the latter marking his first solo entry on the Billboard Hot 100.

In September 2023, V officially debuted as a solo recording artist with his EP Layover, supported by singles such as "Love Me Again," "Rainy Days," and "Slow Dancing." The project broke first-week sales records for a K-pop solo artist on the Hanteo Chart and reached number two on the Billboard 200. In television, he appeared in reality series such as In the Soop: Friendcation in 2022 and Jinny's Kitchen in 2023.

Throughout his career, V has received various accolades and diplomatic appointments. In 2018, he was awarded the fifth-class Hwagwan Order of Cultural Merit by the President of South Korea alongside his bandmates. He was later appointed a Special Presidential Envoy for Future Generations and Culture in 2021. Additionally, V has served as an ambassador for major entities, including global luxury brands Celine and Cartier, the investment company SimInvest, Compose Coffee, Nothing, and the city of Seoul.