BTS RM makes history as first K-pop idol to address APEC CEO summit, thanks ARMY in emotional speech

BTS leader Kim Namjoon, widely known as RM, has achieved yet another milestone by becoming the first K-pop idol ever to address the APEC CEO Summit. The annual global business forum gathers world leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators from the Asia-Pacific region, making RM’s inclusion a symbolic and cultural breakthrough for South Korea and the global music industry.

Standing before a room full of executives and policymakers, RM delivered a moving and introspective speech about the power of art and connection.

He spoke of music as a universal bridge, saying, “It’s not something we can really calculate or measure. It’s a bridge that connects worlds.” His words captured the essence of what BTS has come to represent—unity across languages, cultures, and generations.

Throughout his address, RM’s gratitude toward the BTS fandom, ARMY, was clear and heartfelt. “Army’s support and passion crossed all borders and opened up like a brand new path for me,” he said. “They gave me a voice that was heard at the Billboard Music Awards, at the Grammys, at the United Nations, and even at the White House—at such historic and symbolic events, like right here at the APEC.”