BTS’ RM Talks About The Harsh Realities, Cutthroat Competition In K-Pop Industry: 'Westerners Don’t Understand'

BTS' RM recently spoke about the K-pop industry, military service, and South Korea’s intense work culture.

BTS' RM talked about Korea’s present and how its history has shaped today’s competitive mindset.

Source : Instagram/@rkive

RM recently spoke about the K-pop industry, military service, and South Korea’s intense work culture. As reported by Koreaboo, the BTS leader opened up in a recent interview that is now being widely shared on forums like TheQoo. He also mentioned that his label would not be happy with his comments.

RM talks about the K-pop industry  

The K-pop idol was asked about the years of tough and competitive training that aspiring K-pop artists go through. Even after debuting, they are expected to keep working extremely hard.

Without mincing his words, RM responded, “My company doesn’t like it when I answer questions like this, because I do acknowledge parts of it. Some reporters are going to write headlines like, ‘RM calls it a horrible system that destroys young people!’ But I think that system has, in its own way, played a role in shaping this unique industry. A lot has improved over time, too, things like contract terms and training methods have changed significantly for the better.”

Later in the interview, the conversation took a deeper turn when the topic of South Korea’s cultural obsession with perfection came up. RM was asked: “Is the youthfulness of K-Pop, the obsession with perfection, and the constant tension something unique to Korean culture?”

Competitive mindset in K-pop

RM then talked about Korea’s present and how its history has shaped today’s competitive mindset. “Westerners don’t understand. Korea is a country that was invaded, devastated, and then divided in two. Just 70 years ago, we had nothing. We were a country that needed help from the IMF and the UN. But now, we’re a nation the whole world is watching. How was that even possible? How did this happen? It’s because people worked like crazy to move forward. Then people from countries like France or the UK, nations that colonised others for centuries, come here and say things like, ‘Wow… you guys are way too hard on yourselves. Life in Korea is so stressful!’”

Meanwhile, after much anticipation, it was revealed that BTS's RM will collaborate with Epik High’s Tablo on the song Stop The Rain. Tablo confirmed the release, marking another partnership between the two, known for their mutual admiration. The track drops on May 2 at 1 pm KST (9:30 am IST).