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.

当我们说自己是韩国艺术家时，他们并没有询问我们的音乐。

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

他们问：‘你们来自朝鲜还是韩国？’

Where on earth is Korea?

到底韩国在哪里？

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

因此，在谈论音乐之前，我们不得不先解释韩国在哪里。

And that was the reality.

那就是现实情况。

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

但我们克服了这些障碍，如今我站在这里与大家分享这珍贵的时刻。

ARMY was the force that broke down those barriers.

ARMY（防弹少年团的粉丝名）是打破这些壁垒的力量。

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

他们利用音乐作为媒介，开展跨越国界和语言的对话。

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使惊讶.

受BTS音乐中信息的启发，他们投身慈善、发起社会活动，最终令世界为之惊叹。

Back then, ARMY was seen as supporters of a minority少数群体 culture from Asia.

那时，ARMY被视为亚洲少数文化的追随者。

Now they shake the world as a new community and a fandom粉丝圈 culture.

如今，他们作为一个新兴的社群和文化现象，撼动着整个世界。

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

就在此刻，他们正通过纯粹的文化团结力量跨越国界、打破壁垒，

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

以及一种无国界的包容精神，这也为我提供了无尽的创作灵感。

There is so much cultural content around the whole world.

世界各地有如此丰富的文化内容。

But why K-pop?

但为什么是K-pop呢？

Why is it so unique独特的?

它为何如此独特？

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

为什么K-pop能创造出如此强大且包容的社群？

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

这是因为K-pop特有的团结原则。

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

正是这一点，使得背景各异的人们仅凭K-pop这一媒介就能走到一起。

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

我想把K-pop音乐比作拌饭。

And bibimbap is a traditional Korean dish.

而拌饭是一道传统的韩国料理。

You've got to taste it.

你一定要尝尝。

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

首先取米饭，然后在上面放上各种蔬菜、肉类和调味料，将所有食材拌匀。

And that's the bibimbap part.

这就是拌饭的做法。

And K-pop is much the same.

K-pop 的情况也大致如此。

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

你融合了韩国独特的审美、情感和生产体系。

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

但你并没有摒弃西方音乐元素，如嘻哈、R&B 或电子舞曲。

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

就像拌饭一样，这些部分都保留着各自的独特性，融合在一起创造出一种全新的、令人耳目一新的美味。

K-pop is not just a genre类型 of music.

K-pop 不仅仅是一种音乐流派。