BTS’ RM creates HISTORY, to become first Korean artist to deliver speech at..

BTS leader RM is scheduled to speak on October 29 at the Gyeongju Arts Centre on the second day of the summit. His speech will be on the cultural and creative industries of the APEC region and the soft power of K-Culture. The address will take place from 3:05 pm to 3:15 pm (KST), lasting around ten minutes. While the exact content has not been revealed yet, it is expected that RM will draw from his experiences as the leader of BTS, a group that has elevated K-pop's global influence, to discuss the cultural significance and power of Korean content and has also increased tourism for South Korea. This is the first time that an invitation has been sent out to a K-pop artist as a speaker at the prestigious APEC CEO Summit. BTS leader RM - who is popular for his impressive and fluent speeches in English - is expected to deliver the speech in English before an audience of global business leaders. Netizens clearly have massive expectations for him.

About the event

The Apec CEO Summit, the largest private-sector forum linked to Apec 2025, brings together top business and government leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region. On its official website, APEC 2025 described RM as "a creative powerhouse and avid art enthusiast", noting that he is "renowned for crafting profound lyrics inspired by various art forms" and for "his philosophical approach to music and ability to push creative boundaries through innovative collaborations". This year's event, themed Beyond, Business, Bridge (3B), will explore new partnerships through cross-border innovation and collaboration.

RM's prior speeches at key events

RM previously made headlines for his powerful speeches at the United Nations General Assembly in 2018 and again in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he delivered a message of hope to the global community.

What is RM doing now?

RM is currently gearing up for his comeback album along with BTS members V, Jungkook, Jin, J-Hope, Jimin, and Suga. The OT7 started working on the album in July this year in the US, which will mark their first album in four years. The new record is scheduled to be released in the spring next year.