RM Confesses, "Nine Years Ago, I Was an Arrogant Leader... BTS Became Famous and My Leadership Didn't Work"[Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

BTS leader RM reflected on his past self as a leader.

RM appeared in an interview with British fashion designer Bella Freud, released on the 22nd, and shared various stories directly.

RM first stated, "Despite BTS's global success, I never dreamed of becoming a global star from the beginning." He added, "In the pop industry, one can easily become consumed by charts, numbers, and influence, but I try to keep my distance from those things and draw inspiration from nature and real life. Shorts and reels constantly pressure us to do something. The fastest-paced era is what scares me the most."

Continuing on his role as BTS's leader, RM said, "Imagine a situation where everyone is lying on a sofa with an open window, making it cold. Someone needs to close the window, but no one wants to move because they are too comfortable. I believe that when one person gets up and closes the window, that is the role of a leader. If someone has to do it, I thought it should be me."

RM recalled, "For the first eight or nine years, I was a very strong and somewhat arrogant leader. However, as the team grew and members developed their own names and careers, that approach no longer worked. Afterward, I changed my communication style." He further added, "When members say, 'We know how hard you work. It's really great to have a leader like you,' all the stress I've carried disappears. That is the beauty of the team."

Meanwhile, RM also touched upon his second solo full album, "Right Place, Wrong Person," released in 2024. He said, "I have always lived under the pressure to perform well, so for this album, I focused on feeling more at ease and breaking free from constant tension."

He continued, "I believe most people living in 2026 can relate to that feeling. Even in companies, one might feel, 'Am I the only one who is wrong?' or 'Am I the only one thinking or acting this way?' Everyone has likely experienced moments of feeling like they are in the right place but are somehow wrong, or conversely, feeling like they belong but are in the wrong place. Thanks to digitalization and media, people are becoming increasingly connected; yet paradoxically, more people than ever are experiencing depression and loneliness."

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*This content was translated by AI.