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VOGUE JAPAN INTERVIEW

DECEMBER 24, 2025

All it takes is a quick glance and the temperature of the room shifts. Innocent but a little rebellious, Kim Tae-Hyung, better known as V, is full of contradictions. Photographed for Vogue Japan wearing Celine, and with a touch of 90s cinema nostalgia, the 29-year-old BTS star represents a new kind of modern romantic.

With a deep, resonant voice and a gaze that shifts between intensity and softness, V possesses a presence beyond his 29 years. Since debuting with BTS in 2013, the South Korean star has balanced powerful performances on stage with a surprising gentleness in his unguarded moments. His 2023 solo album Layover captured those subtler emotional nuances, elevating his artistic identity in a more introspective direction. ● ●

Now back in the spotlight after completing his compulsory military service, V is broadening his creative reach, appearing at Paris Fashion Week and throwing the first pitch at a Los Angeles Dodgers game, alongside an expanding roster of brand ambassadorships including Celine and Cartier. BTS have also announced a new album and a world tour planned for 2026.

For this shoot for Vogue Japan, which took place in Paris, the concept centred on the mood of 1990s cinema. V was the star. “I love performing on stage, but being photographed is a different kind of joy,” he says. “I grew up looking at magazines and imagining myself doing shoots like this. Being able to express that now is fun.” ● ● ● ● ●

In this exclusive interview with Vogue Japan, V speaks about his love of film, his ideas about beauty, the way he approaches music, and his thoughts on his fellow BTS members, shaping the person he identifies as today.

──This shoot was inspired by film actors from the 1990s. Are there films or moods from that era that you particularly like? “I love Reservoir Dogs (1992, Quentin Tarantino). And although it’s from the 2000s, I’m also a big fan of Pride & Prejudice (2005, Joe Wright). Recently, [director] Park Chan-wook recommended The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999, Anthony Minghella) to me, which I thought was incredible.” ● ● ● ●

──Which film has moved you the most, and why? “One that comes to mind is Born to Be Blue (2015, Robert Budreau). The way it portrays Chet Baker’s youth, pain, and devotion to what he loves left a strong impression on me. And Ethan Hawke’s final look in the film has stayed with me. I remember thinking, ‘This might be the best film I’ve ever seen.’ I’m a huge jazz fan, so I was completely absorbed by it.” ● ●

──How did you feel in front of the camera during this Vogue Japan shoot? Is there a moment when a switch flips for you? “At the beginning, I couldn’t quite get the feeling right, so we paused and talked through the composition and mood with the photographer. Jongha is truly a genius. The process of creating something together was very enjoyable.” ● ● ──June 13th 2025 marked BTS’s 12th anniversary, and all seven members appeared together publicly for the first time in a while at J-Hope’s concert. What was that moment like for you? “I cried. That should tell you everything!” ● ● ──Watching your fellow BTS members pursue their solo work, what have you learned? “I have such deep respect for them. It goes beyond words like ‘cool’ or ‘inspiring.’ Our aims take us in similar directions, yet each of us is completely different. When I see them on stage, they’re so impressive that sometimes it doesn’t feel like they’re the people standing right next to me.” ● ● ──If you could go somewhere with all the BTS members, where would you choose? “Anywhere would be fun with them. Wherever we go, we’d probably say, ‘Let’s come back here again.’ Except going to the office, that’s different,” he laughs. ● ● ● ──How do you balance life as V of BTS with life as Kim Taehyung? “Because it’s been a while [since I performed], being ‘V’ still feels unfamiliar. I miss performing as V. I want us to release the new album soon so I can stand on stage in front of ARMY again.” ● ● ● ● ──What music are you listening to these days, and how does it influence you? “I’m listening to a lot of different music. There are so many great musicians right now. It’s inspiring, and it’s also shifted a little the direction of the music I want to make.” ● ● ● ● ● ──Has your relationship with music changed over time? “It hasn’t changed, but I do feel I’ve grown. I hope everyone will really look forward to BTS’s 2026 album.” ● ● ──Of all the songs you’ve released, which feels the most like “you,” and why? “When I was younger, it was 4 O’CLOCK. A little later, Scenery. And now, Winter Ahead (with Park Hyo Shin). As for the song that feels the most ‘V’… I think I’ll make that one in the future.” ● ● ● ──If you had to describe your personality in three keywords? “Curious, strong-willed, optimistic.” ● ● ● ──How would you describe your fashion style in a single word? “Warm.” ●

──What’s one essential item you can’t be without? “I always try to include a hint of red. And I often wear warm-toned pieces in brown, grey, and green.” ● ●

──You returned to Paris Fashion Week in October 2025. What stood out to you? Did meeting global fashion figures inspire you in any way? “I did find myself wondering which brand certain shoes were from and thought, maybe I should ask AI [laughs]. But more than meeting new people, I spent the week making memories with the friends I was there with.”

──What does ‘beauty’ mean to you? “It’s having that ‘something’ that captivates others. It’s a broad idea, but perfume, jewellery, or the moment that paint hits some white fabric during a shoot, those things give me a feeling of certainty, like: ‘That’s it.’” ●

──How do you stay healthy and maintain your bodycare routine? “Train every day! I skip it sometimes, but exercise helps more than anything.” ● ──What’s your pre-sleep routine? “I’m not always good at it, but I try to close my eyes and clear away any stray thoughts first.”

──What’s the most memorable moment of your career so far? “I think of 2019, when we went to New York for New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. I spent the end of the year and the start of the new one listening to jazz in the city, and when the bell rang for midnight, it felt incredibly romantic.” ● ● ●

──What’s the most impactful phrase or quote you’ve heard? “I like watching films at home. Recently I watched Evan Almighty (2007, dir. Tom Shadyac). There’s a line that really struck me: ‘If one prays for patience, does God give them patience, or the opportunity to be patient?’ ‘If they pray for courage, does God give them courage, or opportunities to be courageous?’ ‘If someone prays for their family to be closer, does God give them warm feelings, or opportunities to love each other?’ When I heard that, I laughed — but it also stung a little.” ● ● ● ●

──If you were to write a letter to your debut-era self, what would you say? “Train! It gets very hard later,” he laughs. ● ●

──What do your fans mean to you today? “They’re people I truly love.” ● ●

──Is there a fan message that has stayed with you?“At Vogue World 2025: Hollywood last October, someone told me they’d been a fan since our debut and used to come to the fan-sign events. That really moved me.” ● ● ●

──What kind of year was 2025 for you, and what do you hope for in 2026? “2025 might have felt quiet for ARMY, but I was pretty busy in my own way (laughs). It’s been a year of preparation. I didn’t have much to show yet, but I worked hard because I wanted to give [the fans] something. We didn’t want our hiatus to feel too long, so we were discussing things constantly: ‘Should we try this? Maybe that?’ We’ll come back with an album that won’t disappoint.” ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

──As an artist, what is your ideal vision of ‘V’ at this moment? “I can’t say I’m at my strongest yet, not fully. But I want to become someone unshakeable, in order to meet the expectations of the people I love. But at the same time, I can say feel healthy and grounded, both physically and mentally.” ● ● ● ● ●

interview in english

interview in japanese

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DECEMBER 24, 2025 | ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

“Innocent but a little rebellious, Kim Taehyung, better known as V, is full of contradictions ( a person that doesn’t fit into a box) — Vogue Japan on V

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