Kim Taehyung, aka V of BTS, became the most-loved person to serve in the South Korean military.
During Taehyung’s 18-month mandatory military service, fans from around the world showed him unwavering love, propelling him to the top of Goondori’s all-time rankings and making him the most-loved Korean celebrity ever to enlist.
Goondori is a military service tracker widely used by soldiers in South Korea. It also allows fans to send supportive messages to enlisted individuals, including public figures such as celebrities, athletes, and creators.
As of June 9, the day before his official discharge, Taehyung had received over 4.65 million cheering messages on the app—an unmatched record. This made him the first and only celebrity —across idols, actors, athletes, and creators—to surpass 3 million messages, with his final total soaring well past 4.6 million.
The overwhelming love and dedication from fans secured Taehyung’s position as the No. 1 most-loved Korean celebrity of all time on Goondori, cementing his status as a beloved and iconic figure both in and out of uniform.
Taehyung served in the elite Counter-Terrorism Unit, aka Special Duty Team (SDT) of the Ssangyong Military Police Special Task Force, where he rose to the rank of Sergeant. His disciplined approach and positive attitude toward his mandatory service earned him widespread praise from both peers and superiors.
In his discharge speech, Taehyung shared, “I think my time in the military was a period for me to reflect and realign both my body and mind. I feel I’ve rebuilt myself physically and mentally, and now I want to run straight to ARMY as soon as possible.”
With his military chapter now behind him, all eyes are on Taehyung as he enters a new era—one where his global influence is expected to shine even brighter.