Namjoon’s APEC Speech: From K-Pop to Global Connection Through Culture and Art.
BTS leader RM Kim Namjoon delivered a speech at the APEC CEO Summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, on October 29, 2025, championing culture, creativity, and global unity. From breaking barriers to redefining K-pop’s global reach, RM’s words inspired leaders and fans alike.
RM turned music into a message of hope and inclusion. He said in his speech that he was happy that, for the first time, the cultural industry was chosen as a key agenda for APAC. The cultural industry has great economic value and growth potential. He added that he is an artist and not a business leader. He spoke as a creator and an artist and shared his thoughts on how K-pop crosses borders to move the hearts of people. He said, “It’s not something we can really calculate or measure. It’s a bridge that connects world. And I want to bring your attention to how we can work together to build this connection for tomorrow’s creative cultural ecosystem.
Kim Namjoon also stated that he is lucky that he has met six other members of BTS. He said, “I’m an army who accept our music not just as a diversion, but as our shared language of life.” He added that the army is where he finished his military service. He was there for 18 months. Army support and passion cross all borders and opened up like a brand new path for him. They gave him a voice that was heard at the Billboard Music Awards, at the Grammys, at the United Nations, and even at the White House. BTS first started to go outside Korea about 10 years ago.
Kim Namjoon said, “I felt how hard it is to ever hear a Korean song in a English Speaking country. I saw how high a cultural barrier could be.”He exclaimed that trying to take BTS music to the mainstream media was a huge challenge. At that time, BTS music was called non-English foreign culture. He also mentioned how they created their own opportunities. They danced on the streets and handed out flyers to free shows.
Overall, Kim Namjoon said that culture and art are powerful force that moves hearts. They are the fastest messengers that carry diversity and resonance.
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