BTS V’s Heartfelt Greeting to Kim Young-kwang at World Cup

Former South Korean national goalkeeper Kim Young-kwang recalled how the globally famous BTS member approached him first and greeted him warmly as an older friend.

BTS member V’s appearance during the historic 2026 FIFA World Cup final halftime show led to an unexpected offstage story, as former South Korean national goalkeeper Kim Young-kwang revealed that the singer had once approached him first during a private encounter.

Kim shared the anecdote while watching Spain face Argentina with former national team defender Kim Keun-hwan and sports broadcaster So Jun-il on his YouTube channel, “I Am Kim Young-kwang.” Their live commentary covered the final itself, the future of Korean football and the first halftime show ever staged during a FIFA World Cup final.

When BTS appeared on screen to perform “Dynamite,” Kim Keun-hwan immediately reacted to V’s appearance, saying, “Wow, V is really handsome.”

Kim Young-kwang agreed, but his response went beyond what viewers could see during the televised performance.

“When you see him in person, he is unbelievably handsome. It almost doesn’t make sense,” the retired goalkeeper said, before explaining that he had previously met V through the CEO of a fitness center where he worked out.

According to Kim, V did not wait to be formally greeted despite being one of the world’s most recognizable music stars. He walked over and addressed the former athlete first.

“Someone that famous came over to greet me and said, ‘Hello, Young-kwang hyung,’” Kim recalled, repeating V’s greeting as he described the encounter.

V’s appearance started the conversation, but his manners became the story

The anecdote initially emerged from a lighthearted conversation about V’s visuals. However, what appeared to leave the stronger impression on Kim was the singer’s decision to approach him respectfully.

The Korean word “hyung” is used by a man when addressing an older male friend, colleague or acquaintance. V’s choice to call him “Young-kwang hyung” therefore conveyed both familiarity and respect, turning a brief introduction at a fitness center into a moment Kim still remembered while watching BTS on one of the largest stages in global entertainment.

Kim Keun-hwan jokingly told the former goalkeeper that he should have asked for V’s phone number immediately. Kim Young-kwang responded that he could play football with the singer sometime in the future, leaving open the possibility of another meeting.

Kim did not disclose when the encounter occurred or provide further details about the fitness center, so the story remains a personal recollection rather than a newly announced friendship or project between the two stars.

Still, the exchange offers a rare account of how V interacts away from cameras and official promotional events. Rather than relying on a carefully prepared speech or fan interaction, Kim described an ordinary introduction in which V apparently recognized a senior figure from Korean sports and took the initiative to greet him.

Two different kinds of World Cup experience come together

The setting in which Kim told the story added another layer of significance. Long before becoming a YouTube personality, Kim Young-kwang spent more than two decades as a professional goalkeeper and represented South Korea in 17 senior international matches between 2004 and 2012.

He was selected for South Korea’s squads at the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups, although he did not make an appearance during either tournament. At club level, he played for teams including Jeonnam Dragons, Ulsan Hyundai, Seoul E-Land and Seongnam FC, recording more than 600 professional appearances before retiring.

That career gave Kim firsthand knowledge of the pressure surrounding football’s biggest tournament. V, meanwhile, experienced the World Cup from a completely different position in 2026, performing as a member of BTS during an entertainment event without precedent in the competition’s history.

The July 19 final at New York New Jersey Stadium marked the first time a FIFA World Cup final included a dedicated halftime show. Produced with Global Citizen and curated with the involvement of Coldplay’s Chris Martin, the 11-minute production brought together BTS, Madonna, Shakira, Burna Boy, Justin Bieber and other performers before a worldwide audience.

BTS performed “Dynamite,” the group’s 2020 global hit and first song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The selection gave the performance an immediately recognizable centerpiece while placing a Korean pop group within a lineup of artists representing several generations and musical markets.

Spain eventually defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time, but the entertainment program became a major part of the final’s international coverage because FIFA had never previously inserted a large-scale concert production into the halftime interval of its flagship match.

The compliment reflects V’s appeal beyond the stage

V has frequently attracted attention for his fashion campaigns, public appearances and distinctive visual image, including his work as a global ambassador for luxury brands. Kim’s comments, however, combined that familiar praise with a more personal observation about the singer’s behavior.

For an international audience, the story also demonstrates how celebrity seniority operates across different parts of Korean popular culture. Kim Young-kwang and V work in separate industries and belong to different generations, yet V’s greeting acknowledged the former goalkeeper’s age and professional history without requiring an official setting.

The moment was small, and Kim shared it casually rather than presenting it as a major revelation. That may be precisely why it resonated. A conversation that began with a former footballer reacting to V’s face ultimately became a story about what the BTS member did before anyone else had the opportunity to approach him.