“SO PROUD OF YOU NAMJOON”- Fans emotional as BTS’ RM gives a heartfelt shoutout to ARMY during his historic APEC CEO Summit 2025 speech

BTS’ RM aka Kim Nam-joon delivered a keynote speech at the APEC CEO Summit Korea 2025 on October 29, 2025. Speaking as a creator and artist, he reflected on K-pop’s global influence, the journey of BTS, and the importance of cultural solidarity.

During his speech, Kim acknowledged the global fandom of BTS that supported the group from the beginning.

"Most importantly, I'm lucky I met ARMY who accept our music not just as a diversion, but as our shared language of life. And by the way, ARMY is the name of the official BTS fandom for your information. The ARMY, shout out to ARMY all over the world.

He described how the group’s fans, known as ARMY, transcended borders and languages and credited their unwavering support and passion for helping him and BTS cross borders and gain recognition on major stages.

"ARMY's support and passion crossed all borders and opened up a brand new path for me. 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 APAC," He said

Kim also expressed gratitude for their role in helping BTS overcome cultural barriers and gain global recognition. He emphasized that ARMY’s passion and unity became a driving force behind the group’s international success, inspiring acts of charity and social awareness around the world. He noted,

"ARMY was the force that broke down barriers. They used our music as a medium to carry out conversations across borders and languages. They were inspired by the message in the music of BTS to give to charities to run social campaigns, and finally the world was amazed. "

He highlighted how ARMY transformed from a group supporting a minority Asian culture into a powerful global community. Their activities, from charity work to social campaigns, exemplified cultural solidarity a borderless force that continues to inspire him creatively.

"Back then, ARMY was seen as supporters of a minority culture from Asia. Now, they shape the world as a new community and a fandom culture. Even at this very moment, they're crossing borders and breaking down barriers through the pure power of cultural solidarity. Solidarity and tolerance denote no borders, and it's an endless source of creative inspiration for me as well." He shared.

Following the speech, social media platforms were flooded with messages from fans expressing pride and admiration for the rapper. Many expressed how meaningful it was to hear him acknowledge them in such a prestigious setting. Social media platforms were filled with emotional messages. One fan commented,

"SO PROUD OF YOU NAMJOON. HISTORY MAKER RM. APEC KEYNOTE SPEAKER RM. KOREA CULTURAL BRIDGE RM"

Many fans were deeply moved by how he not only represented K-pop on a global stage but also gave a heartfelt shoutout to ARMY, acknowledging their role in BTS’s journey and in spreading K-pop’s influence worldwide.

Social media was flooded with messages of pride and admiration as fans celebrated his confidence, sincerity, as his heartfelt acknowledgment of ARMY left many deeply moved.

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BTS’ RM highlights K-pop’s power to unite cultures in inspiring speech at APEC CEO Summit Korea 2025

At the APEC CEO Summit Korea Kim delivered a heartfelt speech as a creator and artist, focusing on how K-pop transcended borders to connect people across cultures. He expressed gratitude toward his 6 fellow BTS members, their producer Bang Si-hyuk, and especially ARMY.

Kim reflected on BTS’s journey, recalling the challenges they faced when first stepping into the global scene over a decade ago.

"We tried to get on TV to show the world our music, but the doors were closed and would not move. But, as you know, we couldn't just sit around and wait. We tried to make our own opportunities. We danced in the streets. We handed out flyers to free shows." He shared.

Kim credited ARMY’s passion for helping BTS overcome those obstacles. He then delved into why K-pop held such a unique position in the global music scene explaining that K-pop united people of diverse backgrounds through its multifaceted nature. Drawing a comparison to the Korean dish bibimbap, he described how K-pop mixes various elements of Korean aesthetics and emotions with Western genres like hip-hop, R&B, and EDM, while allowing each to retain its identity.

K-pop, he said, was more than a genre; it is a comprehensive creative system that encompasses music, performance, visuals, storytelling, and social media. Its success was in its ability to embrace global influences while preserving Korean identity. He emphasized that K-pop’s success illustrates the limitless potential of cultural diversity and creativity.

Concluding his address, he called on leaders to invest in cultural and artistic innovation, and support creators worldwide, stressing that art and creativity are powerful forces for connection, understanding, and growth. He promised to continue spreading messages of hope, courage, and unity through his music.

"As an artist, I promise that I will also let my imagination fill the canvas you will create. I will play my heart out in the playground you will build for us. I promise that I'll do my part by sending a message of courage and hope and lots of emotions through music. A message of embracing our differences to make something better together." He sared.

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Edited by Adrija Chakraborty