BTS' RM Says His Agency ‘Doesn't Like It' When He Opens Up About Industry Hardships

News18

14-05-2025

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The BTS star took this opportunity to give the world a look into what goes on behind the scenes of making a K-pop idol.
RM, aka Kim Namjoon, is back with yet another insight into the K-pop industry, for which he has been garnering widespread praise. The BTS leader, who is currently fulfilling his mandatory military service, once shared his unfiltered thoughts on the harsh reality of K-pop and how the West views South Korea in an interview which was recently posted on the social media platform The Qoo. His replies caught the internet's attention, prompting people to share their views on the same.
As reported by Koreaboo, RM was questioned about the intense K-pop trainee life, with the interviewer asking, 'K-pop stars go through years of intense training under a highly competitive survival system, and even after debut, they continue to push themselves to the limit. What are your thoughts on this system?" The BTS star took this opportunity to give the world a look into what goes on behind the scenes of making a K-pop idol.
Namjoon candidly answered, 'My company doesn't like it when I answer questions like this, because I do acknowledge parts of it." Well, this won't be the first time he has honestly confessed to the hardships of K-pop training. He further added, '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."
Sharing that the industry has changed, RM said, 'A lot has improved over time, too, things like contract terms and training methods have changed significantly for the better."
The interviewer further questioned the BTS star about K-pop's 'obsession with perfection and the constant tension," inquiring if these were unique to Korean culture. To this, RM gave a nuanced answer, highlighting why Koreans work hard. He explained, '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."
He mentioned how foreigners, especially from France or the UK, who were colonisers once, come to Korea and criticise their way of life. But for Koreans, the same hard work made them one of the leading countries in the world. RM continued, 'But those things are what it takes to make it. And they're also what makes K-Pop so captivating. Sure, there's a grey area when it comes to judgment, but anything that happens too fast or too intensely is bound to come with side effects."
His insights went viral in no time, with even racking up thousands of views and comments on The Qoo. RM's honesty and depth earned him praise from fans.
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