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BTS leader RM will deliver a keynote address at the APEC CEO Summit in Gyeongju on October 29, marking the first appearance by a K-pop artist at the event. / Source: Yonhap News

BTS leader RM will deliver a keynote speech at the APEC CEO Summit in Gyeongju on October 29, becoming the first K-pop artist ever to speak at the high-profile international business forum.

According to the music industry on Monday, RM is scheduled to speak from 3:05 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. on the summit’s second day. His address, titled “Cultural Creative Industries and the Soft Power of K-Culture in the APEC Region,” will focus on the global influence and cultural value of K-pop and the wider Korean creative industry.

Although the full text of his remarks has not yet been disclosed, RM — known for his fluent English and thoughtful public speaking — is expected to draw on his experiences as the leader of BTS to reflect on how Korean culture has become a global force for connection and creativity.

The APEC CEO Summit brings together leaders from the 21 APEC member economies, as well as top executives and innovators, to discuss trends shaping the future of business and the global economy. This year’s theme is “Beyond, Business, Bridge,” emphasizing cross-border collaboration and sustainable growth.

RM’s appearance marks a symbolic milestone for K-culture’s growing global presence, representing South Korea’s creative soft power on the world stage.

Meanwhile, HYBE — the parent company of BTS’s agency BigHit Music — is participating in the summit as a Diamond Sponsor, the event’s highest sponsorship tier. The company will operate a promotional booth at the Gyeongju Arts Center, showcasing its global business network, artist achievements, and iconic K-pop fan culture — including a display of light sticks that have become symbols of fandom unity.