BTS star Kim Taehyung, better known by his stage name V, has lost weight and packed on muscle since enlisting in the South Korean military in 2023.

The singer, 29, recently revealed on WeVerse that he’s shed 10kg (22lbs), although he appears to have bulked up more than slimmed down.

In recent photos shared to both WeVerse and Instagram, the Dynamite hitmaker shows off his muscular arms while working out in the gym.

The images sent K-pop fans into a frenzy, with one writing, ‘He’s doing his military service very well, his body is very good, getting bigger. I think he’s exercising well!’

Another wrote, ‘He better not lose all this when he comes back!’

Some fans online have speculated that Taehyung’s new look is for the third season of Squid Game. Some of the show’s stars have even been questioned about the rumors, but have refused to confirm or deny if Taehyung is joining the cast.

Season two of the hit Netflix series featured several K-pop stars, including singer Jo Yuri and rapper T.O.P.

Last year, BTS member RM revealed that at times he wanted ‘to die’ due to the pressures of being the leader of the South Korean boyband.

The music artist, 30, got candid about the expectations he has faced while talking to fellow member, Jimin. The chat was filmed shortly before RM began his military service in December 2023.

During the discussion, which was released on the group’s main YouTube page on Friday, RM talked about his feelings towards being the leader of the band – which also consists of Jimin, V, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, and Jungkook.

‘In our team, I’m the one who says all the right things, the nice things. I step up to represent the team,’ he explained. ‘That’s what I always do. And people expect me to make speeches and do interviews,’ he continued, with Jimin adding, ‘In English.’

RM said, ‘Right. And to speak out and things like that. But actually, you know me, so you know this, but I’m actually just an unimportant 29-year-old guy living in Korea. That’s who I am.’

Jimin cut in to respond with, ‘I get what you’re talking about,’ with the rapper adding, ‘I guess I couldn’t say I’m “average,” but I’m just a 29-year-old living a slightly different life from others.’

‘The same goes for you. You’re just a 28-year-old guy. But for the past ten years, we felt this burden.’

‘At some point, we just had to be conscientious and different,’ RM further expressed. ‘I love BTS because of our music.’