Since early 2022, the members of BTS have gradually revealed their tattoos after announcing that they all got friendship tattoos to commemorate 10 years together. Each member had the tattoo placed in a different location: RM and j-hope on their ankles, Jin on his waist, Jimin on his finger, SUGA on his shoulder blade, Jungkook behind his ear, and V on his knee. Although each “7” has a different design, when put together, they form the word “BTS.”

Fans also discovered an interesting detail: when combining the tattoo placements of all the members, they resemble the seven-star constellation Pleiades, also known as the “Seven Northern Stars” in кσяєαn mythology. The meaning of each star in “Ursa Major” is also believed to match the personalities and roles of each member: RM as the Leader, Hobi as the Brighter, Jungkook as Outstanding, V as Bear, Yoongi/AGUSTD as 2 binary stars, Jin as the Creative, Jimin as Heavenly

Since revealing the friendship tattoos, the members have rarely talked about them again, though they occasionally give fans random little glimpses. Most recently, V shared a close-up photo of his “7” tattoo, and fans noticed a surprising change!

Specifically, on the 12th, V uploaded a series of artistic polaroid-style photos documenting his and the group’s tour in мєχι¢σ, along with a short but meaningful caption in Spanish: “This is not goodbye.” Among the photos, the picture of his friendship tattoo on his knee drew particular attention from fans, not only because he rarely shows the tattoo anymore, but also because it appeared noticeably different from before.

Many ARMYs quickly compared it with older photos V had previously shared and noticed that the tattoo lines now looked significantly darker and bolder. This led many fans to believe that the idol may have gotten the tattoo retouched to make the ink more defined. One fan wondered: “So Taehyung made the 7 tattoo more bold??”

Other fans also discussed the change, commenting: “Wait… am I the only one noticing that Taehyung’s friendship tattoo looks way darker and thicker now? Did he get it retouched?”, “Hold on, V’s ‘7’ tattoo changed a little, right?”, “Did he darken it up?”, “Bora president is on duty”, “This tattoo looks so matching with his hair”, and “It seems like sweat faded his tattoo, just kidding. But doesn’t it look like he got it touched up to make it darker?”

Interestingly, besides updating fans about his own “7” tattoo, V also uploaded another photo of RM wearing a sleeveless shirt, giving fans a clearer look at the leader’s new upper-arm tattoo that was only recently discovered. The tattoo is believed to be “the natural sign” in music — often symbolizing returning to one’s true self, regaining balance, or starting over after changes in life — which many fans feel perfectly matches RM’s personality and artistic style.

This is RM’s third tattoo. His first was the same “7” friendship tattoo as the other BTS members, while his second tattoo, revealed earlier this year, was a treble clef symbol — an emblem that often reflects a deep pαѕѕion for music, rhythm, and harmony. Its placement within musical notation is also said to symbolize RM’s role within BTS: the one who connects the members together and maintains balance within the group.

Since BTS got their friendship tattoos, several members seem to have become much more open to getting tattoos. Besides RM, even j-hope has added two new tattoos alongside his friendship tattoo. The BTS rapper tattooed his iconic slogan, “I’m your Hope, You’re my Hope,” on both sides of his knees in August last year.

Meanwhile, V has recently been promoting with the full BTS lineup through the group’s world tour “ARIRANG,” including performances at GNP Seguros Stadium in мєχι¢σ City. Local media even coined the term “V-effect” to describe the explosive response from fans throughout BTS’s visit to мєχι¢σ, while also reporting in detail about V enjoying local snacks at the food court inside the concert venue.

Mexican and кσяєαn media outlets later reported that V completely captivated fans with his stage presence and vocals throughout the concert. At the local food court, long lines of fans formed to buy the “banderilla” (deep-fried battered sausage) that he had eaten. Some newspapers even reported that the shops became chaotic due to the overwhelming number of requests saying, “Give me the menu V ate,” once again proving his immense global influence everywhere he goes during the world tour.