Updated On: 30 October, 2025 07:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
BTS leader RM (Kim Namjoon) made history as the first K-pop artist to deliver a keynote address at the APEC CEO Summit, held in South Korea. Speaking before global business leaders and policymakers, RM delivered a powerful and creative speech

RM at the summit
RM has made history yet again by being the first K-pop star to be picked as the keynote speaker at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, which has finally returned to South Korea. Speaking to a room full of industrialists and policymakers. Kim Namjoon astonished once again with his inventive, impactful, and remarkable speech, in which he compared K-pop to the adaptability of the Korean dish bibimbap and applauded his team's efforts to break down language and cultural boundaries. The BTS leader also requested more possibilities for creators like himself to explore and advance around the globe, which drew applause.
His remark marked the first time a Korean musician had spoken at the APEC CEO summit, a famous global business event. Namjoon discussed how K-pop transcends borders to "move the hearts of people." "It is not something we can accurately calculate or measure. "It is a bridge that connects worlds," he explained.