BTS’s RM Gives First Keynote Speech by a K-POP Artist at APEC CEO Summit, Comparing K-POP to Bibimbap

RM, the Leader of group BTS, delivered a keynote speech at the APEC CEO Summit held in Gyeongju on October 29. He is the first K-POP artist to serve as a speaker at this summit. RM spoke for about 10 minutes on the theme of “Culture and Creative Industries and the Soft Power of K-Culture,” marking the first time this year that the cultural industry has been elevated to a core agenda item of APEC. The APEC CEO Summit is a business forum where leaders of 21 member countries in the Asia-Pacific region gather to discuss industries shaping the global economic landscape and emerging trends. This year’s event, themed “Beyond Business, Bridging,” was expected to draw approximately 1,700 attendees. RM explained K-POP by comparing it to bibimbap, a traditional Korean dish. He stated that “the success of K-POP is not because one culture is superior, but because it respects diversity and embraces world cultures.” He added that “Korea’s unique aesthetics, emotions, production systems, along with Western musical elements such as hip-hop, R&B, and EDM, combine while maintaining their individual identities to create new outcomes.” RM emphasized that “K-POP is not just a music genre; it is a 360-degree total package that encompasses music, dance, performance, visual style, storytelling, music videos, and social media.” He reflected on the difficulties BTS faced when first going global over a decade ago. He said, “At that time, our music was classified as a non-English language culture, and it felt like a test to see if Korean music could succeed on the global stage.” He noted that “the barriers for getting our music aired on television stations were high and formidable.” He also mentioned that they danced and sang on the streets, distributing free concert flyers, and when introduced as “Korean artists,” they were asked questions such as “Did you come from North Korea or South Korea?” and “Where is Korea located?” RM stressed that ARMY, their fandom name, was the key force that broke down these massive barriers. He explained, “ARMY used our music as a medium to maintain communication across borders and languages. Inspired by our messages, they carried out voluntary donations and social campaigns, astonishing the world.” He added that “ARMY, once seen as ‘supporters of minority cultures in Asia,’ has become a new community and fandom culture that has brought a fresh impact to the global cultural market, exerting positive influence across borders through the power of pure cultural solidarity.” RM addressed global business leaders, urging them to “provide economic support and create opportunities so that creators around the world can flourish in their creativity.” He concluded by saying that “culture and art are the most powerful drivers that move hearts and the easiest and fastest mediums to convey diversity and inclusivity.” RM’s keynote speech came ahead of BTS’s planned return in spring 2026 with a new album and a world tour. BTS is scheduling around 65 performances worldwide, including over 30 in North America.