While enlisted in South Korea’s military, BTS’ V stayed earned chart-topping hits, award wins, philanthropic efforts, and global fan engagement.
As V began the enlistment process to fulfill his mandatory South Korean military service in late 2023, the BTS superstar continued his ongoing global takeover without skipping a beat.
V, whose full name is Kim Taehyung, enlisted for his service on December 11, 2023, and was soon assigned to fulfill his duties under the Special Task Force of the Military Police Corp. From dropping chart-topping solo singles to racking up awards from around the world, alongside new projects like his own photo book, unexpected duets, and charity donations, V’s military service period still managed to be a springboard for creativity and generosity.
As his duty wraps on June 10, 2025, it’s clear that even in uniform, V’s star power never dimmed — if anything, it’s only shone brighter. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest accomplishments from the last 18 months.1. Earned 2023’s Top-Selling Solo Album in Japan
On December 20, 2023, just days after V enlisted, Japan’s Oricon Charts revealed its 2023 year-end rankings with the news that his Layover album ranked at No. 16 for the year. With 15 albums by bands or duos ahead of Layover, V earned the distinction of being the highest-ranked soloist among all releases that year.2. Entered Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Charts
With the December 30 release of his collaboration track “Wherever U R” with rising singer-songwriter UMI, American fans’ love of the track helped it land on both the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart and Hot R&B Songs chart on Billboard. This marked V’s first time entering the R&B and hip-hop charts as a soloist.3. Won His First Two Awards at the Seoul Music Awards
The 33rd Seoul Music Awards took place on January 2, 2024, where V won a “Main Award” at the show while Layover earned the honor of Fan Choice of the Year. It was V’s first time nominated as a soloist at the show.4. Went Viral Co-Starring in IU’s “Love Wins All” Music Video
While getting the chance to show off his acting chops in IU’s “Love Wins All” video is an accomplishment, V’s work in the visual delivered virtual results across platforms even with the limited promotion he was able to show.
Fans noted how music video photos of IU and V entered the Trending Topics on the Chinese social platform Weibo, earning more than 100 million views for their “wedding”-themed photos. Meanwhile, multiple clips from the video have earned millions of views across TikTok, showcasing the broad appeal of the visual. Since its January 2024 unveiling, the “Love Wins All” video has garnered more than 95 million views and continues to gain momentum month by month.5. Won His First Korea Brand Award
The 2024 Korea Brand Awards surveyed over 288,000 people across Korea and Vietnam to honor the celebrities and brands that experts and fans think are leading new trends. The 2024 ceremony took place on January 9, where V was honored with the Male Idol Variety Star award, thanks to his growing recognition across reality shows like In the Soop: Friendcation and two seasons of Jinny’s Kitchen.
