Late last week, BTS leader RM (Kim Namjoon) delivered a historic keynote speech at the APEC CEO Summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, becoming the first K-pop artist to address the global economic forum. His remarks centered on culture, creativity, and Korea’s growing soft power. RM said that K-pop’s success came from respecting diversity and embracing world cultures while maintaining Korea’s unique identity. Comparing Korean pop culture to bibimbap, he explained that K-pop blends “Korea’s unique aesthetics and emotions with global elements like hip-hop, R&B, and EDM,” showing that collaboration without borders creates harmony.
He described BTS’s own journey as an “experiment” — testing whether music sung in Korean could succeed globally. Facing early skepticism, the group overcame barriers through “borderless solidarity” through the power of their global fandom, ARMY, who communicated beyond language and nationality. RM emphasized that BTS’s story represents how art can unify people. He said that “ARMY was the power that broke down those barriers” and added that culture flows like a river — changing form but staying true to its source. His message of “no borders, no limitations” resonated at a summit largely focused on trade and cooperation, reminding leaders that creativity and cultural openness can also drive progress. RM’s APEC appearance was both a proud moment for South Korea and a powerful statement of K-pop’s influence on global dialogue, positioning culture as a bridge between nations.
— Karen Mwenda
#RM #BIGHITEntertainment #APEC #RMAPECSpeech #RMOctober2025APECSpeech #ARMY #kcrush #kpop #kidol #koreanculture #koreanpride ##BTS #kpopgloballanguage #RMsHistoricAPECSpeechPopCultureMeetsDiplomacy #Kim Namjoon #ComparingKoreanpopculturetobibimbap #APECCEOSUMMITKOREA2025 #tradeandcooperation #kcrushamerica #kcrushmagazine #AmericanandKoreanCultures #kpophasnoborders #koreanmusic #ARMYforBTS #koreanlanguage #GDRAGONAPECAmbassader #Koreanpopculture #KoreanKPopinfluence #GyeongjuSouth Korea
User Review
( vote)Related Articles
First American Faces of K-Pop: Korean-American Idols Who Bridged Two Worlds
Before K-pop became a worldwide phenomenon, a few Korean-American artists were already helping bridge the gap between Korea and the United States. Their fluency in English, Western influences, and cross-cultural appeal helped shape the early sound... Read More
Sixteen Years of Celebration: Honoring the Tradition of Korean Festival Houston
Courtesy of KFestHouston on Instagram Did you know that there are well over a dozen Korean interest festivals across the United States annually? It’s certainly a positive tradition and something that contributed to my growing interest in South... Read More
5 Best Historical Kdramas
Embark on an epic journey through five of the most compelling historical K-dramas. These popular series blend intense political drama and sweeping romance with fresh fantasy elements like time-travel. Prepare to be captivated by the fate of kings,... Read More
5 Best School K-Dramas
School settings in Korean dramas have always provided the perfect stage for youthful romance, intense rivalry, and thought-provoking social commentary. Over the years, several titles have captured both domestic and global audiences, blending... Read More
Who is Cortis? – HYBE’s Latest Boy Group
CORTIS is a newly debuted 5-member K-pop boy group under BigHit Music (HYBE) that launched with the pre-single “GO!” and officially debuted on August 18, 2025, with the digital single “What You Want.” The group name — short for “Color... Read More
Spoiler-Free Review: KPOPPED – A Cross-Cultural Collaboration at Its Core
PSY performance on the KPOPPED stage in Seoul, S. Korea Courtesy of KPOPPED and Apple TV+ Apple TV+’s KPOPPED premiered on August 29, 2025, as a celebration of crosscultural music, bringing together K-pop groups, Western music icons, and fresh... Read More
G-Dragon 2025 World Tour: The “Superman” Has Returned to the United States
G-Dragon performs onstage at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Navada Courtesy of GALAXY CORPORATION Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of KCrush. On... Read More
KPOP CLUB NIGHT UPCOMING DATES
Ready to lose your voice again? Thought so! Grab your tickets and block off the dates, we’re coming back to bring you together again! KPOP CLUB NIGHT UPCOMING DATES SEPT—-> DEC 2025 Sept 5 – Los Angeles (18+) – DJ... Read More
Sipping Through Seoul (Again!): 2025 Seoul Wine & Spirits Expo
The Seoul International Wines & Spirits Expo (SIWSE) returned to COEX Exhibition Center June 26-28, 2025 and Kcrush was able to gather amongst professionals and enthusiasts and enjoy an easier-to-navigate experience once again. The annual event... Read More
Leave a Reply