RM Changed a Singer's Career with a Small Gesture — Now That She's Famous, She's Expressing Her Gratitude to Him

 


BTS have had an extraordinary journey — from unknown rookies in K-pop to becoming "21st century pop icon" with unprecedented achievements, awards, and global recognition. They transcend the boundaries of K-pop and became a global phenomenon, captivating audiences worldwide with music rooted in personal stories and socially impactful messages. For many idols and young artists, BTS remain a powerful source of inspiration as well as the benchmark they aspire to reach. 

At the same time, BTS do more than inspire — they also play a significant role in opening doors for emerging talent. By publicly recommending songs praising new artists, the group has created valuable opportunities for young musicians with true potential to gain visibility and even recognition for international audiences.

Hanroro is a prime of a young artist whose career shifted dramatically thanks to the timely "help" of K-pop superstars. 

Born in 2000, Hanroro is a talented singer-songwriter known for her indie/modern rock sound. Her music carries strong literally and acoustic influences, focusing on vocals and storytelling to convey emotion. Despite her distinctive style, when she debuted in March 2022. Hanroro attracted relatively little attention compared to idol rookies entering the scene at the time. 




Everything changed when RM noticed this young talent. In 2022, he took a screenshot of his phone playing her debut track "Ipchun (Let Me Love My Youth)" and posted it on his Instagram story. Although RM often shares songs his songs, the simple action marked a turning point in Hanroro's career. 




"Ipsun" soon spread widely among listeners and eventually earned Hanroro a nomination for Best Modern Rock Song at the 2023 Korean Music Awards. 

Even more remarkably, on November 22-23, she held her solo concert "Hanroro 4th solo concert: Grapefruit Apricot club," at Korean University's Hwajung Gymnasium in Seoul, drawing around 10,000 attendees over two days. 

It is worth noting that at her first-ever solo concert after debut, only about 200 people attendees across two days. Even last June, her two-day concert at 700-seat venue drew a total only 1,400 fans, the growth is remarkable. In just one year and five months, Hanroro's fandom expanded dramatically — growth built on the foundation of RM's introduction to the public. 




Hanroro herself has openly acknowledged the "once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity" that RM gave her, expressing her gratitude for the visibility his support brought. In a recent interview with LEmag, she said:

"I had debuted, but I was still living with the thought that 'I'm just a potato.' RM gave me a shoutout on Instagram in the early morning. At first, I was really surprised because, no lie, from middle school to high school, every moment was truly colored by BTS's music. So at first, I was really shocked. I was grateful. 

It was just so great. It was really great, and the situation itself — being able to comfort the artist who used to comfort my heart — was very meaningful to me. It was the moment I realized that more and more people were receiving my music. So I became even more determined to work harder."

When asked, "Are there any aspects that feel tangible in terms of numbers?" She explained:

"There definitely are. Since those artists have so many overseas fans. I can directly feel the increase in the influx of international listeners. Previously, most comments in English and Indonesian. It seems like a positive change has occured."


In another interview with Live Wire, Hanroro also expressed deep gratitude for RM's support early in her career. She shared that he played a major role in drawing attention to her and boosting her popularity. 

"A few years ago, I thought I'd been hacked because I got so many DMs in the middle of the night, but RM given me a shoutout. I was surprised, but I was so grateful."

Notably, in the same interview, she mentioned that RM was one of the reasons she was given the opportunity to appear as a guest performer at Coldplay's "Music to the Spheres World Tour" in Korea last April. 

Even though Hanroro's own talent remains the core reason she can hold her audience, RM's introduction undeniably made a difference. This case perfectly illustrates the tremendous influence BTS hold within the industry and the admirable character they consistently demonstrate. Beyond their platform to uplift young artists taking their first steps in music. And these meaningful acts highlight the crucial role RM and BTS play in helping K-pop grow stronger as a vibrant, ever-expanding ecosystem. 

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