My name is Kim Namjoon, also known as RM, the leader of BTS. It is a great honor to be invited to such an important event for young people. Last November, BTS launched the “Love Myself” campaign with UNICEF, born from the belief that true love begins with loving yourself. We joined UNICEF for the “END Violence” program to protect children and young people around the world from violence. And our fans have become a huge part of this campaign with their actions and enthusiasm. We truly have the best fans in the world.
And I'd like to start by talking about myself. I was born in Ilsan, a city near Seoul, in South Korea. It's a beautiful place with a lake, hills, and even an annual flower festival. I had a happy childhood there, and I was just an ordinary kid.
I used to look up at the sky and think, and I used to dream the dreams of a child. I used to imagine I was a superhero who could save the world. And in an intro to one of our early albums, there's a line that says, "My heart stopped when I was, maybe, nine or ten."
Looking back, I think that's when I started worrying about what other people thought of me, and I began to see myself through their eyes. I stopped looking up at the sky, at the stars; I stopped daydreaming, and instead, I just tried to fit into the molds other people created. Soon, I began to silence my own voice and started listening to the voices of others.Nobody called my name, and neither did I.
My heart stopped and my eyes closed.
So, just like that, I, we, all lost our names.
I became like a ghost.
But he had a sanctuary, and that was music.
There was a little voice inside me that said, “Wake up, kid, and listen to yourself.” But it took me a long time to hear the music calling my true name. Even after making the decision to join BTS, there were many obstacles. Some people won’t believe it, but most people thought we were hopeless. And sometimes, I just wanted to give up. But I think I was very lucky that I didn’t give up. I’m sure that I, and we, will continue to stumble and fall like this.
BTS have become artists who perform in massive stadiums and sell millions of albums now, but I'm still just a regular 24-year-old guy. If I've achieved anything, it's only been possible because of having the other BTS members right by my side, and thanks to the love and support our ARMYs around the world have given us. And maybe I made a mistake yesterday. But my yesterday self is still me. Today, I am who I am with all my flaws and mistakes. Tomorrow, maybe I'll be a little wiser, and I'll still be me. These flaws and mistakes are what make me who I am, forming the brightest stars in the constellation of my life. I've come to love myself for who I am, for who I was, and for who I hope to become.
I'd like to say one last thing. After releasing our "Love Yourself" albums and launching the "Love Myself" campaign, we began hearing extraordinary stories from our fans all over the world about how our message helped them overcome life's challenges and begin to love themselves. These stories constantly remind us of our responsibility. So let's all take it a step further. We've learned to love ourselves, so now I'm asking you to speak up. I'd like to ask you: What is your name? What excites you and makes your heart beat faster? Tell me your story. I want to hear your voice, and I want to hear your conviction. No matter who you are, where you're from, your skin color, or your gender identity, express yourself. Find your name, find your voice to express yourself.
I'm Kim Namjoon, also known as RM from BTS. I'm an idol and artist from a small town in Korea. Like many people, I've made many mistakes in my life. I have many flaws and many fears, but I'm going to hold on to myself as tightly as I can and I'm gradually starting to love myself, just little by little.
What is your name? Speak.
Thank you so much.
©BTS Spain (Twitter)