BTS leader RM has added another distinction to his growing list of art-world credentials: global ambassador for the National Museum of Korea.
The country’s flagship museum announced the appointment on June 20, citing the singer’s longstanding interest in Korean traditional culture and art. It marks the first time the Seoul-based institution has named a global ambassador.
RM, whose real name is Kim Nam-joon, is known as a serious collector and an active supporter of Korean cultural heritage. He donated 100 million won (S$84,540) in both 2021 and 2022 to the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, a government-affiliated body dedicated to preserving and repatriating Korean cultural assets held abroad.
At a ceremony held a day earlier, museum director You Hong-june presented RM with a special edition reproduction of the Daedongyeojido, the renowned 19th-century map of the Korean peninsula housed in the museum’s collection.
“I want to do my part so that the beauty and value of our cultural heritage can reach more people,” RM said.
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In his new role, RM will contribute to the museum’s promotional campaigns and help introduce Korean history and traditional culture to global audiences.
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The appointment comes amid a particularly active period for the rapper in the art world. An exhibition centred on his personal collection, RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me, will open at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in October and run through February 2027. Co-curated by RM, the exhibition will feature around 200 works from his collection alongside pieces from the museum’s holdings.
