Kim Namjoon, better known as RM, leader of BTS, delivered a keynote address at the APEC CEO Summit held at the Gyeongju Arts Center on October 29th, becoming the first K-pop artist ever to speak at the high-profile business forum.
Speaking in English, RM told the audience, “I like to think of K-pop as bibimbap,” drawing a parallel between Korea’s iconic mixed-rice dish and the genre’s ability to merge diverse elements. “K-pop embraces Western musical elements like hip-hop, R&B, and EDM without rejecting them, while also fusing them with unique Korean aesthetics, emotions, and production systems. Like bibimbap, these disparate elements, while maintaining their own identities, blend together to create something new.”
RM went on to define the genre’s broader appeal: “K-pop is more than just a music genre. It’s a 360-degree total package encompassing music, dance, performance, visual style, music videos, storytelling, and social media.”
He stressed that K-pop’s global success is “not because one culture is superior to another,” but rather because it preserves Korea’s own identity “while respecting diversity and embracing global cultures.” RM added, “When cultural boundaries collapse and diverse voices harmoniously blend, creative energy explodes.”
Reflecting on BTS’s journey, RM recalled the group’s early struggles to break into the global market: “Just over a decade ago, when BTS first entered the international scene, I couldn’t have imagined this kind of glory. At that time, our music was categorized as a ‘non-English culture,’ and entering mainstream platforms felt like a test bed for whether Korean music could thrive globally.”
He credited BTS’s fans, ARMY, for helping bridge that divide. Closing his address, RM urged world leaders to continue investing in cultural industries: “As an artist, I pledge to fully embrace the opportunities you open and contribute to the values of courage, hope, and inclusiveness through music. I ask APEC leaders to be steadfast supporters, enabling creators to fully unleash their creativity and resonate with the world.”
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– I believe the reason people from diverse backgrounds can unite simply through the medium of K-Pop lies in its unique principle of convergence.
– I liken K-Pop music to “bibimbap,” a traditional Korean dish. Bibimbap is called “bibimbap” because it combines rice with…
— BTS Updates, News & Charts ⁷ (@_BTSMoments_) October 29, 2025
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