RM (BTS) speaks at APEC 2025, affirming Kpop's position on the world map

BTS leader RM ( Kim Nam Joon ) attracted attention when he represented young artists in speaking at the opening ceremony of the APEC 2025 CEO Summit in Korea, sharing his views on the power of culture and creativity.

On October 29, HYBE Chairman Bang Si Hyuk and BTS leader RM (Kim Nam Joon) attended the opening ceremony of the APEC 2025 CEO Summit at the Gyeongju Arts Center (South Korea). This is the first time in history that a Kpop artist has been selected as a keynote speaker at a large-scale international forum like APEC, marking an important step forward for the Korean entertainment industry.

Before their speeches, RM and Bang Si Hyuk visited the HYBE booth to showcase the creative power of Korean businesses. In a speech lasting about 10 minutes, RM expressed his honor and pride in representing the young generation of artists at the forum gathering the world's top leaders, and emphasized his excitement that the cultural sector was included in the official APEC agenda for the first time.

He humbly considers himself "very lucky" to have had the opportunity to meet the six BTS members and work with producer Bang Si Hyuk, who always believed in him and helped him to pursue music wholeheartedly. RM also gave special thanks to the ARMY fan community, who have always supported BTS not only because of their catchy melodies but also because they see in their music "a language of life".

RM recalls the group’s difficult journey: 10 years ago, Korean music was still considered “non-English”, making it difficult to access big stages and international platforms. To bring their name closer to the audience, BTS performed on the streets, handing out flyers inviting people to free shows. At that time, many people did not even know where Korea was on the map.

BTS' success, according to RM, is a result of the spirit of unity and love that transcends borders that ARMY brings. "ARMY has turned BTS's music into a bridge between cultures, languages, and countries. Inspired by their songs, they organize charity campaigns, spread positive messages, and even create social change," RM affirmed.

He calls ARMY a “global community” – people who were once considered a small group of people who loved Asian culture, but have now become symbols of the spirit of connecting humanity through music.

Explaining why K-pop can create such a big impact, RM likened this music scene to bibimbap – the traditional Korean mixed rice dish. "Bibimbap combines many different ingredients but blends them together to create a harmonious flavor. K-pop is the same, it blends Western music elements such as hip-hop, R&B, EDM with Korean spirit, emotions and aesthetics to create new value," he said.

According to RM, Kpop is not just a music genre, but a creative combination of sound, dance, images, stories and social media. Kpop's success comes from the intersection - both preserving national identity and being willing to learn from world cultures.

At the end of his speech, RM sent a message to APEC leaders, hoping that they would continue to invest in and support the young generation of creatives around the world. RM's inspirational speech at APEC not only affirmed the global influence of BTS and Kpop, but also showed that Korean culture is becoming a significant soft power, contributing to shaping trends and connecting people around the world.

Bang Si Hyuk behind BTS faces the risk of imprisonment: The surprising truth gradually revealed? Gongon16:46:13 31/05/2025Bang Si Hyuk, founder of HYBE and the man who helped make BTS a global phenomenon, is currently embroiled in a criminal investigation, sparking much interest in the Korean and international entertainment industry.