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.

當我們說自己是韓國藝術家時，他們並沒有詢問我們的音樂。

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

他們問：‘你們來自朝鮮還是韓國？’

Where on earth is Korea?

到底韓國在哪裡？

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

因此，在談論音樂之前，我們不得不先解釋韓國在哪裡。

And that was the reality.

那就是現實情況。

But we overcame克服 those barriers障礙, and now I'm here today sharing this precious moment with you.

但我們克服了這些障礙，如今我站在這裡與大家分享這珍貴的時刻。

ARMY was the force that broke down those barriers.

ARMY（防彈少年團的粉絲名）是打破這些壁壘的力量。

They used our music as the medium媒介 to carry out conversations that cross borders and languages.

他們利用音樂作為媒介，開展跨越國界和語言的對話。

They were inspired by the message in the music of BTS to give to charity, to run social campaigns, and, finally, the world was amazed使驚訝.

受BTS音樂中資訊的啟發，他們投身慈善、發起社會活動，最終令世界為之驚歎。

Back then, ARMY was seen as supporters of a minority少數 culture from Asia.

那時，ARMY被視為亞洲少數文化的追隨者。

Now they shake the world as a new community and a fandom粉絲圈 culture.

如今，他們作為一個新興的社群和文化現象，撼動著整個世界。

Even at this very moment, they're crossing borders and breaking down barriers through the pure power of cultural solidarity團結,

就在此刻，他們正透過純粹的文化團結力量跨越國界、打破壁壘，

and tolerance寬容 that know no borders and is an endless source of creative inspiration for me as well.

以及一種無國界的包容精神，這也為我提供了無盡的創作靈感。

There is so much cultural content around the whole world.

世界各地有如此豐富的文化內容。

But why K-pop?

但為什麼是K-pop呢？

Why is it so unique唯一的?

它為何如此獨特？

Why does K-pop create this powerful and inclusive包容的 community?

為什麼K-pop能創造出如此強大且包容的社群？

It's because of the special principle原則 of unity of K-pop.

這是因為K-pop特有的團結原則。

This is what enables people from such diverse多樣的 backgrounds to come together just through the medium of K-pop.

正是這一點，使得背景各異的人們僅憑K-pop這一媒介就能走到一起。

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

我想把K-pop音樂比作拌飯。

And bibimbap is a traditional Korean dish.

而拌飯是一道傳統的韓國料理。

You've got to taste it.

你一定要嚐嚐。

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

首先取米飯，然後在上面放上各種蔬菜、肉類和調味料，將所有食材拌勻。

And that's the bibimbap part.

這就是拌飯的做法。

And K-pop is much the same.

K-pop 的情況也大致如此。

You take Korea's unique aesthetics美學的, emotions, and production system.

你融合了韓國獨特的審美、情感和生產體系。

But you don't turn away from elements要素 of Western music like hip-hop, R&B, or EDM.

但你並沒有摒棄西方音樂元素，如嘻哈、R&B 或電子舞曲。

Just like bibimbap, these parts all keep their unique identities身份 but mix together to make something new, fresh, and delightful.

就像拌飯一樣，這些部分都保留著各自的獨特性，融合在一起創造出一種全新的、令人耳目一新的美味。

K-pop is not just a genre體裁 of music.

K-pop 不僅僅是一種音樂流派。