Kim Taehyung, known as V of BTS, continues to dominate global music charts in 2025, even while serving his mandatory military service in South Korea. His chart-topping achievements, from holiday hits to streaming milestones, have sparked a wave of excitement and mobilization among his devoted fans, the BTS ARMY. Despite limited public appearances, V’s music—marked by soulful vocals and emotional depth—has kept him in the spotlight, with fans rallying to celebrate his successes and push back against perceived snubs. Here’s a look at V’s recent chart performance and the fan fervor it’s unleashed, drawn from credible sources like Forbes, Sportskeeda, and Pinkvilla.
V’s Chart Dominance in 2025
V’s 2024 holiday releases have left a lasting mark. His single “White Christmas,” a collaboration with Bing Crosby, hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Holiday Digital Song Sales chart, replacing his earlier track “Winter Ahead” (with Park Hyo Shin), which had dethroned Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” This made V the first male artist this decade to replace himself at No. 1 on the chart, joining Carey as the only acts to achieve this feat, per Forbes. Fans dubbed him the “King of Christmas,” with celebrations erupting online for his historic wins.
His 2023 solo album Layover continues to shine, surpassing 4.5 billion streams on Spotify by March 11, 2025, making V the third most-streamed K-pop soloist in the platform’s history, per Sportskeeda. The pre-release single “Love Me Again” hit over one billion streams, a first for a K-pop soloist, and Layover sold 2.1 million copies in its debut week, per the IFPI’s Global Music Report. The album also reached No. 2 on the US Billboard 200, tying V with BTS bandmates Jimin and Suga as the highest-charting Korean soloists.
V’s 2024 single “FRI(END)S” debuted at No. 1 on YouTube’s Global Top Music Videos chart, No. 3 on Billboard Global Excl. U.S., and No. 5 on Billboard Global 200. It spent 10 weeks on the UK Official Singles Download and Sales Charts, a milestone for a K-pop soloist, per Sportskeeda. Even older tracks like “Slow Dancing” from Layover are climbing, nearing 490 million Spotify streams as of April 18, 2025, per posts on X. These numbers cement V’s global pull, with Google Trends naming him the most-searched K-pop star of Q1 2025 across 71 of 79 countries, per Pinkvilla.
Celebration and Outrage
The ARMY has been in overdrive, both celebrating V’s wins and rallying against setbacks. His holiday chart sweep sparked pride, with fans flooding social media with hashtags like #KingOfChristmas and praising his “timeless” discography. On X, supporters shared stats, like Layover’s 100 million Spotify streams, to amplify his achievements. A Weverse post on March 23, where V shared a gym update and reflected on losing 10 kg during service, deepened fans’ emotional connection, fueling their drive to keep his music trending.
But the mood turned fiery when V was left out of the 2025 Seoul Music Awards (SMA) nominations, announced March 26. Fans argued that “FRI(END)S” met all criteria—strong chart performance on Circle Chart and global platforms—yet V was snubbed while bandmates Jin, RM, Jimin, and Jungkook scored nods. Outrage erupted online, with fans accusing SMA organizers of bias and launching campaigns to demand recognition, per Sportskeeda. The snub, contrasted with V’s No. 4 ranking among global male pop stars on Google Trends (behind Drake, Eminem, and Justin Bieber), only intensified their resolve to champion his work.
V’s Influence Amid Military Service
V’s ability to dominate charts without new releases or public appearances is remarkable. Currently serving in South Korea’s military since December 2023, with a discharge expected in June 2025, he’s kept fans engaged through occasional Weverse updates and pre-scheduled releases. His February Instagram post, showing off a chiseled physique from military training, “broke the internet,” per Koreaboo, proving his star power endures. The ARMY’s mobilization—streaming, sharing, and advocating—has kept tracks like “Inner Child,” “Winter Bear,” and “FRI(END)S” alive, with Layover hitting No. 2 on Japan’s Billboard Hot Album Chart, per Sportskeeda.
The broader BTS narrative adds context. With all members set to reunite post-service in 2025, possibly for a 10th-anniversary album or tour, V’s solo success is part of a group-wide chart resurgence. Jungkook, Jimin, and Jin have also notched Billboard wins, but V’s holiday chart coup and streaming records stand out, especially given his limited activity. V’s chart run isn’t just about numbers—it’s a testament to his global reach and the ARMY’s unmatched loyalty. His music, blending soulful jazz-pop with emotional storytelling, resonates across cultures, from the U.S. to Japan. The SMA controversy, while a sore point, has galvanized fans, turning frustration into action to boost his streams and visibility. As V nears his military discharge, the anticipation for new music and a BTS reunion only amps up the stakes.
For now, the ARMY’s keeping the fire burning, streaming Layover and “White Christmas” to push V’s records higher. Whether it’s celebrating his “organic” wins or calling out awards shows, their mobilization shows no signs of slowing. With V’s voice still echoing through global charts, it’s clear his influence is as strong as ever, military service or not.