As the first K-pop idol to deliver a keynote speech at the APEC CEO Summit 2025, RM, the leader of BTS, just created history. Fans were incredibly proud of him after his words and videos went viral. But now some people are criticising him for supposedly boasting about himself and disrespecting other artists. Read on to know more about it.
BTS RM’s Bold Speech At APEC CEO Summit Sparks Backlash
The event took place recently and it was attended by many global business tycoons. RM delivered a 10 minute speech and fans shared his videos on the internet and celebrated this historic moment.
During his speech, RM spoke directly to the leaders gathered there. He described himself as a performer from this young generation and asked them to lend a hand to artists everywhere by offering money to help ideas grow freely. His simple message talked about the struggles many face in turning dreams into reality.
However, a group of people stirred up drama and turned this proud moment into a debate. They labelled him self-centred and accused him of putting down fellow musicians. Some people felt he ignored the work of others in the industry.
In response, fans stepped in and fiercely defended him. They pointed out that no group has pushed boundaries like BTS and other groups avoid giving credit where due. Fans added how the BTS leader has long praised the whole music industry.
They also stated that BTS opened doors for K-pop on the global stage. Before them, it was mostly local and unknown. They changed that and attracted immense attention from everywhere.
Also Read: BTS RM Makes History At APEC CEO Summit 2025 With Powerful Speech!
For the big day, RM chose a neat suit and paired it with a special pin featuring a white tiger and a magpie, drawn from Korean folk tales in Minhwa style.
What are your thoughts on the above online discourse? Let us know!