V debuted with the South Korean boy group BTS (a.k.a. Bangtan Boys) in June 2013 with the single album 2 Cool 4 Skool. With multiple Guinness World Records under their belt, the group is recognized one of the most successful K-pop acts globally. They have released numerous fast-selling albums and also headlined sold-out concerts in and out of the country. Their fourth Korean-language studio album Map of the Soul: 7 topped music charts in over 20 countries and also became the world’s best-selling album of 2020. V has so far released three solo songs under BTS, namely Stigma in 2016, Singularity in 2018, and Inner Child in 2020. He has also written songs for the group and lent his voice to the official soundtracks of several TV series. In 2016, he made his acting debut in the KBS2 sageuk Hwarang. In 2019, he dropped his first independent song Scenery, which he also self-composed. That same year, he released his first all-English solo track Winter Bear.

V graduated from Korean Arts High School. He then earned a degree in broadcasting and entertainment at the Global Cyber University. He is the eldest of three siblings.