BTS leader RM (Kim Nam-joon, 31) delivered a powerful and inspiring keynote address at the 2025 APEC CEO Summit held at Gyeongju Arts Center on October 29, speaking before global leaders about the cultural impact of K-pop and the importance of supporting creators.
Speaking on the theme “Cultural Creative Industries and the Soft Power of K-Culture from a Creator’s Perspective,” RM began by expressing his honor at addressing APEC leaders in his home country: “It is a great honor to introduce myself and deliver a message to all of you here in Korea, where I was born and raised. As a creator, I feel immense pride and anticipation knowing that, for the first time this year, the cultural industry has been recognized as a core APEC agenda.”
RM reflected on his own journey, crediting the people who made BTS’s global success possible: “I met six BTS members, a producer who believed in us—Bang Si-hyuk, known as ‘hitman’ Bang—and most importantly, ARMY, fans all around the world who embraced our music not just as entertainment but as a language of life.” He continued, “The passion and support of ARMY across borders opened a completely new path for me. Thanks to them, I was able to speak not only at the Billboard and Grammy Awards, but also at the UN General Assembly, the White House, and now here at APEC.”
Recalling BTS’s early years, RM shared, “A decade ago, when we first began performing overseas, we never imagined standing on a stage like this. Back then, our music was labeled as ‘non-English’ and faced significant barriers. But today, I am here because ARMY helped break those walls. They used our music as a bridge, crossing language and cultural boundaries, organizing donations and social campaigns inspired by our message. What was once seen as a small ‘Asian subculture’ became a global cultural movement.”
In a memorable metaphor, RM compared K-pop to bibimbap, Korea’s iconic mixed rice dish: “Bibimbap is a traditional Korean dish that combines rice with various vegetables, meat, and seasonings—all mixed together in harmony. K-pop is just like that. It embraces Western elements like hip-hop, R&B, and EDM while blending them with Korea’s unique aesthetics, emotions, and production systems. Like bibimbap, each ingredient retains its identity, yet together they create something entirely new.”
He emphasized that K-pop is not merely a music genre but a complete cultural ecosystem: “K-pop integrates music, dance, performance, visual style, storytelling, and social media into a 360-degree total package.”
RM further stressed that K-pop’s success does not come from any sense of cultural superiority but from inclusion and fusion: “K-pop thrives because it respects diversity and embraces cultures from around the world while maintaining its Korean identity. When cultural boundaries dissolve and diverse voices come together, creativity flourishes. That is the essence of K-pop’s global appeal and the foundation of ARMY’s borderless unity.”
He concluded with a heartfelt appeal to world leaders: “As an artist and creator of this generation, I ask the APEC leaders to provide economic support and opportunities for creators worldwide so their creativity can truly flourish. Investment in the next generation must be viewed not only from an economic perspective but also from a cultural one. Culture and art are powerful forces that move hearts and serve as the fastest, most inclusive bridge for diversity and understanding.”
RM’s eloquent speech, blending humility, insight, and passion, was met with enthusiastic applause and praised for redefining how the world perceives K-pop’s influence in global culture.
Sources: Daum
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