BTS’ RM’s influence has been notorious over the years, particularly as global organizations highlight his efforts and contributions to the music industry. This time, the idol delivered a powerful keynote at the APEC CEO’s summits’ cultural session.
On October 29, the APEC session was held at Gyeongju Arts Center, focused on “Creative Industries in the APEC Region and the Soft Power of K-Culture.” RM then shared his insights into why Kpop became a global success and why it is important to support creators worldwide.
“As a creator, I feel both deep pride and great expectations that this year, culture has been recognized as a core agenda item.”
The idol also recalled how difficult it was to introduce the Kpop genre to the whole world, but all of his efforts and the rest of the Kpop industry have paid off as he reflects on his personal journey during these past 10 years:
“Fans who embrace our music not just as entertainment but as a language of life. Their borderless passion opened a completely new path for me, enabling me to speak not only at global award shows like the ‘Billboard Music Awards’ and the Grammys, but also at the UN General Assembly, the White House, and now, this APEC stage. It was even more difficult when people introduced us as ‘Korean artists.’ Instead of asking about our music, we were often met with unexpected questions: ‘Are you from North Korea or South Korea?’ ‘Where is Korea exactly?’ We had to explain the country before our music. But today, I stand here because those barriers were broken thanks to ARMY. They use our music to communicate across borders and languages.”