The Friendship No One Saw Coming: Lee Jong Hyuk and BTS V's Dad

When veteran actor Lee Jong Hyuk appeared on MBC's Radio Star on April 29, he shared more than just career updates. The 54-year-old revealed an unexpected friendship that has quietly been unfolding in a Seoul neighborhood: he and the father of BTS's V — one of the world's most famous pop stars — are close friends who regularly hang out together.

The confession caught everyone by surprise. In front of hosts Kim Gura and Jang Do-yeon, Lee Jong Hyuk casually mentioned that his eldest son Taksu's role model growing up was V, the globally beloved K-pop idol known for his rich baritone voice and artistic persona. One of the hosts quickly pointed out the coincidence — and that's when Lee dropped the bombshell: he and V's father have been living in the same neighborhood and spending leisure time together.

Beer, Billiards, and Karaoke With V's Dad

Lee Jong Hyuk described the friendship with warmth and humor. The two men share a love of neighborhood activities that feel refreshingly ordinary given their famous family connections. "We drink beer together and play billiards," Lee told the hosts with a grin. "And yes, we go to karaoke too."

Kim Gura playfully confirmed what everyone was already thinking, calling the pair "karaoke best friends." Lee Jong Hyuk only laughed and doubled down: "With V's father, I once sang 30 songs by Cho Yong Pil in a single karaoke session. And next time? We're going straight for Lee Moon Sae's songs."

The mention of Cho Yong Pil and Lee Moon Sae — two of South Korea's most iconic ballad and rock artists from the 1970s and 80s — painted a vivid picture of two middle-aged fathers bonded not just by their famous children, but by a shared sense of fun and nostalgia. For BTS fans who know V primarily through his sleek performances and global influence, the image of his father spending long evenings belting out oldies with a veteran actor adds a surprisingly human dimension to the superstar's world.

His Son Almost Became a K-Pop Idol

The BTS connection doesn't stop with a casual friendship. Lee Jong Hyuk also revealed that his son Taksu once walked the same path that V himself traveled — training as a K-pop idol hopeful at Starship Entertainment, one of South Korea's prominent agencies behind groups like Monsta X and Cravity.

It all started simply enough. Taksu wanted to learn broadcast dance — a style popularized by K-pop groups — so his father began looking into dance academies. That search led to an unexpected call from Starship Entertainment, which offered Taksu a trainee spot. Lee Jong Hyuk, supportive of his son's interests, encouraged him to give it a shot.

But the trainee life proved brutal. Taksu was commuting daily from Ilsan, a city in Gyeonggi Province west of Seoul, all the way to Gangnam in the southern part of the capital — a journey that can take over an hour each way. Add in after-school training sessions and late-night subway rides home, and the young aspiring idol was barely getting any sleep. The physical toll eventually became too much, and Taksu made the decision to leave the training program behind.

The actor reflected on this with a mix of pride and philosophical acceptance. "He wasn't getting enough sleep," Lee Jong Hyuk said. "That kind of schedule is incredibly hard, especially for a growing teenager." He even speculated that the sleepless nights may have affected Taksu's height — the elder son now stands at 181 centimeters — while his younger son Junsu, who didn't go through trainee life, stands noticeably taller.

A Confident Son With His Own Path

When the show's hosts teased Lee Jong Hyuk about using his friendship with V's father to get closer to the BTS star, Taksu apparently had a very on-brand response. Rather than being starstruck, he reportedly told his father: "Don't be envious. I don't know what will happen to me either." The comment drew laughs from the studio audience — and revealed a quietly confident young man who is comfortable carving out his own identity.

That confidence extends to his professional aspirations. Taksu has written "I will be devoted — I will be filial" on his official actor profile, a nod to his grounded character. He is currently enrolled at Dongguk University's Department of Theater and Film, following firmly in his father's footsteps.

Meanwhile, younger son Junsu made headlines of his own recently. He received acceptance letters from three universities simultaneously — Jungang University, Seoul Institute of the Arts, and Sejong University — and ultimately chose Jungang University's theater program. Both sons pursuing acting careers has led Korean media to affectionately call the Lee family an "acting dynasty."

Lee Jong Hyuk: A Veteran Actor Still Going Strong

Lee Jong Hyuk, born in 1971, has been a familiar face in South Korean entertainment for more than three decades. He gained widespread recognition through popular dramas including the beloved romance series A Gentleman's Dignity (2012), where he starred alongside Jang Dong-gun, Kim Soo-ro, and Kim Min-jong. The four were reunited last year after 13 years for a special gathering that delighted longtime fans.

Over the course of his career, Lee Jong Hyuk has built a reputation as a reliable and versatile performer — not just on screen but also on stage, having appeared in musical productions including 42nd Street. His appearance on Radio Star demonstrated that his appeal extends well beyond his professional resume: he is a father, a storyteller, and clearly someone who knows how to have a good time with whoever happens to live next door.

Why Fans Can't Stop Talking About This

For the millions of BTS fans around the world — known as ARMY — the revelation about V's father offers a rare and touching glimpse into the private world of Kim Taehyung's family. V has always been known for his deep attachment to his hometown roots and his close relationship with his parents. While he occasionally references his family in interviews and social media, the details of their everyday lives remain largely private.

The idea that V's father has a neighborhood friend who happens to be a well-known actor — and that the two of them spend evenings singing Korean classics at karaoke — feels both entirely believable and surprisingly heartwarming. It's the kind of detail that reminds fans that even global superstars come from families with their own quiet, ordinary lives happening just out of frame.

The clip from Radio Star quickly circulated on social media, with BTS fans expressing delight at learning more about V's family background. Comments ranged from admiration at the wholesome nature of the story to jokes about what kind of songs V might like to sing at karaoke himself.

For Lee Jong Hyuk, the moment was perhaps just another funny anecdote from a full and interesting life. But for the audience at home — and for fans around the world — it was a reminder that the most unexpected connections can be built over something as simple as a shared playlist and a microphone.