BTS’ RM named global ambassador for National Museum of Korea

The National Museum of Korea on Friday appointed RM, leader of K-pop mega band BTS, as its global public relations ambassador to promote the value of Korean cultural heritage both domestically and globally.

RM, whose real name is Kim Nam-joon, will participate in various promotional activities and contribute to sharing the history and traditional culture of Korea with the world, the museum said in a statement Saturday.

“It is highly meaningful to share the beauty of Korea’s cultural heritage with the global audience in collaboration with RM of BTS,” said You Hong-june, director of the National Museum of Korea. “We expect RM to play a significant role in establishing the National Museum of Korea as a cultural institution loved by people worldwide.”

“It is my great pleasure to be appointed as the global ambassador,” RM said. “I will do my best to share the beauty and value of Korea’s cultural heritage with a wider audience.”

The museum presented RM with a Daedongyeojido Hanging Scroll, a miniature of the original
Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) piece from its collection. The Daedongnyeojido is Korea’s first large-scale map created with woodblocks in 1861 by Korean cartographer Kim Jeong-ho.

After the appointment ceremony, RM and You viewed the “Kim Hongdo: Painting His Era” exhibition currently on display at the museum’s Calligraphy and Painting Gallery. Kim Hongdo was a master painter of the Joseon Dynasty known for his landscapes, bird-and-flower paintings and portraits. The exhibition runs through Aug. 2.

RM, known as an art collector, is set to hold a special exhibition featuring his personal collection called RM x SFMOMA at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in October.

BTS is on a world tour scheduled to run through March next year.

BY SARAH KIM [[email protected]]