BTS’s V Talks About How He Had Been Affected By The Pandemic And “ARMY-Less” Times

“ARMYs are not here…”

While wrapping up BTS‘s first night of their long-awaited online concert, MAP OF THE SOUL ON:E, shared thoughts on how the COVID-19 pandemic has really taken a toll on him.

| @bts_bighit/Twitter

He admitted, “It feels like all we talk about is that we are bummed about the pandemic.” Just like everyone affected around the world, V said he too “had a hard time processing what is happening.”

Especially as a K-Pop idol, with a strong desire to perform on stage and interact with a live audience, V couldn’t help but be affected by the “ARMYlessness” of it all.

Even this concert… It was meant to be a time for us to have fun with ARMYs, singing and dancing along. That’s why we do concerts. But with only the members here… It simply doesn’t feel the same.

— V

Back when BTS started promoting “On” early 2020, V believed things would get better soon. Unfortunately, as COVID-19 has been impossible to beat for months, V realized his hopes of getting to see ARMYs in person grew dimmer and dimmer.

As more time passed, I started to feel extremely anxious about it all. I couldn’t help but ask, ‘When is this all going to be over?’

— V

Since then, V has kept one goal: To stay connected to ARMYs by pushing out a lot of things that they can watch to fill the void. He said, “Doing ‘Dynamite’ performances and interviews, all I wanted was for ARMYs to see them. They weren’t as fun to do, but I hoped they could make the exhausted ARMYs feel better about the situation.”

The online concert venue. | @bts_bighit/Twitter

Hence, for ARMYs and V alike, the MAP OF THE SOUL ON:E online concert has become a real breather amid the continuing COVID-19 chaos.

While thanking ARMYs for staying by his side, though virtually, V hoped for a reunion in the near future.

ARMYs are not here… but you are all here with the seven of us. I feel like you guys are with us right now. I’m watching you through the screen, but I can hear your voices and feel your excitement. This feels real… Next time though, I really hope you can be actually here.

— V

Watch his heartfelt speech here:

BTS