RM of BTS delivered a keynote address at APEC CEO Summit Korea 2025 on Wednesday (October 29), becoming the first K-pop artist ever to speak at the event.
The speech marked the first time that cultural and creative industries have been elevated as a key agenda item at APEC.
The APEC CEO Summit brings together business leaders and government officials from across the Asia-Pacific region. This year’s event, held in Gyeongju from October 28 to 31 under the theme “Bridge, Business, Beyond,” is expected to draw approximately 1,700 attendees.
RMs keynote address comes ahead of BTS’s confirmed return in spring 2026 with a new album and world tour. Bloomberg recently reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that BTS plans to perform approximately 65 dates worldwide, including more than 30 shows in North America.
In his remarks, RM discussed the transformative power of the cultural industry and K-Pop’s role in fostering an inclusive global community that transcends national borders.
“K-Pop’s success didn’t happen because one single culture was better,” RM told the summit. “K-Pop’s success came from respecting diversity and embracing world cultures, but still holding onto Korea’s unique identity.”
“K-Pop is not just a genre of music. It’s a 360-degree, total package of music, dance, performance, visual style, story-telling, music video, and even social media.”
RM
RM compared K-pop to bibimbap, the traditional Korean dish comprised of rice, meat, vegetables, and other ingredients.
“K-Pop is much the same,” he explained. “You take Korea’s unique aesthetics, emotions and production system. But you don’t turn away elements of Western music, like hip-hop, R&B and EDM. Just like bibimbap, these parts all keep their unique identities but mix together to make something new and fresh and delightful.”
He also described K-Pop as “not just a genre of music” but rather “a 360-degree, total package of music, dance, performance, visual style, story-telling, music video, and even social media.”
RM reflected on his own career and BTS’s early international efforts approximately ten years ago, when the group faced significant cultural barriers.
“I’m lucky to have met the six other members of BTS,” he said. “I’m lucky that I met our producer “hitman” Bang who gave us his full support that we could make the music we love. And most importantly, I’m lucky I met ARMY, who accept our music not just as a diversion but as our shared language of life.”
RM added: “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 music.”
He credited ARMY, BTS’s fan community, with breaking down those barriers. “They use our music as the medium to carry out conversations that cross borders and languages,” he said.
In his address, RM called on APEC leaders to support creators worldwide.
“There are creators all around the world. Please help them,” he said. “Give them the financial support so that their own creativity can bloom. Give them the opportunities so that their talents can really shine.”
He emphasized that culture and art serve as “a powerful force that moves hearts” and “the fastest messengers that carry diversity and resonance.”
RM’s speech comes after he completed 18 months of mandatory military service in South Korea. His second solo album, Right Place, Wrong Person, was released in May 2024.Music Business Worldwide