BTS’s RM donates 100 million won to help National Museum of Korea expand its collection

Singer RM of boy band BTS donated 100 million won ($73,800) to help the National Museum of Korea acquire and purchase relics for its collection, the museum announced Wednesday.

The donation was made on Tuesday to the Friends of National Museum of Korea, a nonprofit organization that supports and sponsors the museum. The fund will help the organization purchase works and donate them to the museum.

“I am pleased to support the museum,” RM said. The singer was appointed a global ambassador for the National Museum of Korea in June. “I will continue to do my part to promote the museum and Korean culture,” he added.

The Friends of National Museum of Korea supports the museum through acquisitions, academic programs and improvements to museum facilities. It has purchased and donated works including a Joseon-era (1392-1910) lacquer box with mother-of-pearl lotus scroll designs in 2023 and an early Joseon-era cursive calligraphy piece by renowned calligrapher Hwang Gi-ro in 2024.

RM has long supported arts and cultural heritage projects. In 2021 and 2022, he donated 100 million won each year to the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation under the Korea Heritage Service to preserve, restore and promote Korean cultural heritage held outside the country.

BY KANG HYE-RAN [[email protected]]