BTS V Breaks Records with First Magazine Cover After Military Service - Dominates Japan Rankings for 200+ Weeks
BTS member V has returned to the spotlight with his first magazine cover since completing military service, while maintaining an unprecedented streak of over 200 consecutive weeks at #1 on Japan's popularity rankings.
V made headlines on August 5, 2025, when W Korea announced him as the cover star for their September issue - his first magazine shoot since being discharged from military service on June 10, 2025. The announcement video went viral immediately, garnering 15 million views within just 17 hours of release.
The photoshoot took place during V's July visit to Paris for Celine's fashion show, where he wore pieces from the brand's Spring 2026 collection. The magazine described V with "charming mismatched eyes, a beauty mark above his lips, a languid voice" and "visual presence that commands the scene".
V's influence in Japan has reached extraordinary levels, with consistent #1 rankings across multiple major platforms:
NEHAN Rankings: For 222 consecutive weeks (over 4 years), V has been voted the most popular male K-pop idol, receiving 16,401 votes in the June 23-29, 2025 voting period.
BIHAN Rankings: V holds the #1 spot for most popular Korean actor in his 20s for 218 consecutive weeks, receiving 9,203 votes in the same period.
K-board Platform: V maintained a 154-week streak at #1 in K-pop idol popularity rankings and topped the 'Korean Drama Male Actor Election' and 'Flower Boy Election' polls.
KPOP JUICE: V secured #1 position with 5.47 million total votes.
V completed his 18-month military service on June 10, 2025, alongside BTS leader RM. He served in the Special Duty Team (SDT) of the South Korean Military Police's elite "Double Dragons" unit. Immediately after discharge, V went live on Weverse for 10 minutes, telling fans "It's been a while! I missed you, too. I really wanted to communicate with you all".
V's popularity extends beyond fan voting into mainstream Japanese media coverage. On his discharge day, Japan's leading network Nippon TV featured footage of him leaving the military on their 24-hour news channel NTV News 24. Major broadcasters like NHK regularly report his activities and provide special recognition on his birthday.
Google Trends Japan data shows V as the most-searched K-pop star in Japan since BTS's 2013 debut, and he's the only Korean solo artist to reach #1 on X (formerly Twitter)'s 'Celebrity Ranking' in Japan, ahead of local celebrities.
According to Sports Seoul, V's appeal in Japan stems from "the quality of his voice, stage presence, and warmness in interviews," plus his efforts to communicate with fans in Japanese and maintain eye contact during activities.
International fashion industry figures have also taken notice of V's recent work. Celebrity stylists who have worked with major Hollywood stars publicly endorsed his magazine photoshoots on social media, demonstrating his crossover appeal beyond traditional K-pop audiences.
With all BTS members completing military service by June 21, 2025 (when Suga finished his alternative service), the group is preparing for their full reunion. V's sustained popularity in Japan - one of the world's largest music markets - positions BTS strategically for their anticipated 2026 comeback activities.
As V stated after his discharge: "I have remade my mind and body, and now I want to run to ARMY as quickly as I can". His combination of military completion, magazine cover success, and unbroken Japanese popularity rankings creates significant momentum for both his solo career and BTS's group return.
