BTS RM's Keynote Speech at the APEC CEO Summit (2025)

When we said we are artists from Korea, they didn't ask us about our music.

They asked, "Are you from North Korea or South Korea?"

Where on earth is Korea?

So, we had to explain where Korea was before we could even talk about our music.

And that was the reality.

But we overcameTo succeed in dealing with a problem or difficulty. those barriersSomething that prevents people from achieving something or understanding each other., and now I'm here today sharing this precious moment with you.

ARMY was the force that broke down those barriers.

They used our music as the mediumA way of expressing information or communicating ideas. to carry out conversations that cross borders and languages.

They were inspired by the message in the music of BTS to give to charity, to run social campaigns, and, finally, the world was amazedTo fill someone with great surprise or wonder..

Back then, ARMY was seen as supporters of a minorityA smaller number of people within a group who are different from the majority. culture from Asia.

Now they shake the world as a new community and a fandomThe collective body of fans of a particular person culture.

Even at this very moment, they're crossing borders and breaking down barriers through the pure power of cultural solidarityUnity or agreement of feeling or action,

and toleranceThe ability or willingness to tolerate the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with. that know no borders and is an endless source of creative inspiration for me as well.

There is so much cultural content around the whole world.

But why K-pop?

Why is it so uniqueBeing the only one of its kind?

Why does K-pop create this powerful and inclusiveIncluding everyone and not excluding anyone based on race community?

It's because of the special principleA fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior. of unity of K-pop.

This is what enables people from such diverseShowing a great deal of variety backgrounds to come together just through the medium of K-pop.

I'd like to compare K-pop music to bibimbap.

And bibimbap is a traditional Korean dish.

You've got to taste it.

So, you take bap, which is rice, then you put all kinds of vegetables, meat, and flavorings on top and mix it all up.

And that's the bibimbap part.

And K-pop is much the same.

You take Korea's unique aestheticsThe study of beauty or the set of principles concerning beauty., emotions, and production system.

But you don't turn away from elementsA part or feature of something that is necessary to make it complete. of Western music like hip-hop, R&B, or EDM.

Just like bibimbap, these parts all keep their unique identitiesThe characteristics determining who or what a person or thing is. but mix together to make something new, fresh, and delightful.

K-pop is not just a genreA particular style or category of art of music.