BTS’s V Successfully Bulks Up? Sergeant V Checks In with Fans and Shares a Photo with Park Hyo-shin
On February 23, BTS V posted on his official account, saying, “Sergeant Kim checking in! D-107. After a harsh winter, I’ll make sure to stay healthy and prepare well to meet you again in the warm spring!”
Along with this message, he shared several candid photos, delighting global ARMYs (BTS’s official fandom). In the newly released pictures, V appears even more robust after successfully bulking up. Before enlisting, he had mentioned his goal of gaining 24kg.
A photo with his close friend, singer Park Hyo-shin, also caught fans’ attention. Park Hyo-shin previously shared that he and V were close friends before officially collaborating on “Winter Ahead.” Their bond developed naturally through conversations about music, which eventually led to them sharing wine and casually creating melodies together.
V enlisted as an active-duty soldier in the South Korean Army on December 11, 2023. He is currently serving diligently as a member of the Special Task Force under the Military Police Corps of the 2nd Corps Command in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. He is set to be discharged on June 10, 2025.
Despite his military hiatus, V’s presence in the music industry remains strong. According to Spotify, Winter Ahead (with PARK HYO SHIN), a duet he released with Park Hyo-shin in November 2023, ranked 186th on Billboard’s latest Global (Excluding U.S.) chart (as of February 15), maintaining its position for 10 consecutive weeks.
Winter Ahead (with PARK HYO SHIN) was a heartfelt gift V recorded for ARMY before his enlistment. Upon release, the song debuted at No. 99 on the Billboard Hot 100 (chart dated December 14). It is the first jazz duet by a Korean artist to ever enter this chart.
Even while serving, V surprised fans on January 20 by sharing six Instagram stories featuring his favorite songs, including Rosé’s “stay a little longer.” Since V and Rosé rarely interact publicly, the post went viral, especially amid past dating rumors involving V, Jennie, Rosé, and Jungkook.