BTS Leader RM (Kim Nam-joon, 31) delivered a powerful and inspiring keynote speech at the 2025 APEC CEO Summit held at the 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 topic “Cultural Creative Industries and the Soft Power of K-Culture from a Creator’s Perspective,” RM began by expressing his honor in addressing APEC leaders in his home country: “It is a great honor to introduce myself and convey 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 central point of the APEC agenda.”
RM reflected on his own journey, giving credit to the people who made it happen BTSglobal success is possible: “I met six members of BTS, a producer who believed in us – Bang Si-hyuk, known as ‘hitman’ Bang – and, most importantly, ARMY, fans from all over the world who have embraced our music not only as entertainment but as a language of life.” He continued, “ARMY’s passion and support across borders has opened a whole new path for me. Thanks to them, I have been able to speak not only at the Billboard and Grammy Awards, but also at the United Nations General Assembly, the White House and now here at APEC.”
Remembering BTSof the early years, RM shared, “A decade ago, when we started performing abroad, we never imagined being on a stage like this. Back then, our music was labeled “un-English” and faced significant barriers. But today I’m here because ARMY helped break down those walls. They used our music as a bridge, crossing linguistic and cultural boundaries, organizing donations and social campaigns inspired by our message. What was once seen as a small “Asian subculture” has become a global cultural movement.”
In a memorable metaphor, RM compared K-pop to bibimbap, the iconic Korean mixed rice dish: “Bibimbap is a traditional Korean dish that combines rice with various vegetables, meats 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 fusing them with Korea’s unique aesthetics, emotions and production systems. Like bibimbap, each ingredient retains its own identity, but together creates something completely new.”
He emphasized that K-pop is not simply a musical genre but a complete cultural ecosystem: “K-pop integrates music, dance, performance, visual style, storytelling and social media into a total 360-degree package.”
RM further emphasized 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 unite, creativity flourishes. This 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 call on APEC leaders to provide economic support and opportunities to creators around the world so that their creativity can truly thrive. Investments in the next generation must be seen not only from an economic perspective but also from a cultural one. Culture and art are powerful forces that move hearts and serve as a faster and more inclusive bridge to diversity and understanding.”
RM’s eloquent speech, combining humility, insight and passion, was greeted with enthusiastic applause and praised for redefining how the world perceives K-pop’s influence on global culture.
Sources: Daum
