[BTS Gwanghwamun D-35] "A Cultural Icon Beyond K-pop"... Profile series ① Leader RM of BTS

 Original article: Aju News

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With the comeback of the group BTS scheduled for March, the world is once again buzzing with with excitement. News of their return, delivered through "Arirang," along with plans of a world tour, signals a massive phenomenon that is expected to spark immediate reactions not only in the music industry but also across tourism and regional economies. BTS is a presence that influences the global economy and, at the same time, a symbolic name that elevates South Korea's national image. Ahead of this comeback, our publication presents the "BTS Profile Series," which takes an in-depth look at each member in turn, documenting the seven faces that make up BTS. <Editor's note>

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The leader of BTS, RM (real name Kim Namjoon), is both the group's starting point and its compass. As the main rapper and the core of the rap line, his role goes far beyond simple part distribution. His rap has served to structure and shape the messages within BTS's music. Set against his distinctive mid-low vocal tone, his lyrics form a central axis that runs through the group's worldview and emotional landscape. It is no exaggeration to say that BTS was built around RM. 

RM is also one of the members most actively involved in both songwriting and producing. In effect, he has been deeply engaged in numerous tracks to the extent that he can be called BTS's "main lyricist." His lyrics consistently bear the marks of deep reflection. Themes such as anxiety experienced as an idol, the gaze and criticism of others, questions of identity like "Who am I?", and the resulting of loneliness and solitude recur frequently. Unlike Suga, who often addresses society and systems in a direct manner, RM tends to organize a song's overall message through metaphor and implication. In representative tracks such as "I NEED U" and "Spring Day," he played a key role in unifying the emotional tone into a single cohesive statement. 

His journey as a producer also began early. Starting with the second mini album “SKOOL LUV AFFAIR,” he consistently placed self-produced tracks on album tracklists. On the repackage album “YOU NEVER WALK ALONE,” he participated for the first time in composing the chorus of “Spring Day.” He revealed that the song was inspired by fallen leaves, drawing from childhood memories of drying and saving leaves and attaching them to letters. This personal sentiment was transformed into a universal emotional experience, leaving a lasting impression. 

Beyond music, RM has continued to expand his own world. Well known as an art enthusiast, he owns works by artists such as Yun Hyong-keun, Kim Whanki, Yoo Youngkuk, Kim Tschang-yeul, and Jean-Michel Othoniel, and has personally visited exhibitions by Lee Uganda, Kim Jong-hak, and Park Daeseong. Among fans, his exhibition visits have become so influential that the term “RM Tour” has emerged, turning his art-viewing activities into a cultural phenomenon. More recently, his visit to the special exhibition marking the 110th anniversary of Lee Jung-seob's birth at Art Chosun Space in Gwanghwamun drew large crowds, once again demonstrating his cultural influence. 

RM's public role as a leader is another important facet of his identity. In 2018, he attended the United Nations General Assembly as a presidential special envoy and delivered in English speech on behalf of the team, conveying the message “Love Yourself.” Following this speech, he earned titles such as “K-pop Diplomat”and “global leader.” He continued to visit the UN with BTS in 2020 and 2021, delivering messages to young people around the world. 

Major U.S. media outlets described their activities as those of “regulars at the UN” as a speaker at the APEC CEO Summit in Gyeongju, presenting on “Cultural Creative Industries in the APEC Region and the soft power of K-Culture.” This marked the first time a K-pop artist had taken the stage at this event, setting a new precedent. 

RM's path as a solo artist represents yet another major pillar of his career. In December 2022, he released his first official solo album, “Indigo,” which received widespread acclaim for its collaborations across music and visual art. He followed this with second full-length album, “Right Place, Wrong Person,” released on May 24, 2024, further sharpening and expanding his artistic world. Centered on the theme of “moments when one feels like an outsider who doesn't quite belong,” the album consists of 11 tracks, all of which RM participated in writing. His agency described it as “a work that focuses on the essence of RM as a solo artist, rather than as  of BTS.”

The starting point of the team and architect of its messages, RM has carved his own path at the heart of BTS through his unique language. This is why the first chapter of the “BTS Profile Series” begins with him.