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Thank you, Mr. Secretary-general, UNICEF executive director, and all the excellencies
and distinguished guests from across the world. My name is Kim Namjoon,
also known as RM, the leader of the group BTS. It is an incredible honor to
be invited to an occasion with such significance for today's young
generation. Last November, BTS launched the LOVE myself campaign,
with UNICEF built on our belief that true love first begins with loving
myself. We've been partnering with UNICEF's end violence program to protect
children and young people all over the world from violence. And our fans have
become a major part of this campaign with their action and with their
enthusiasm which surely have the best fans in the world. And I'd like to begin
by talking about myself. I was born in Ilsan, a small city near Seoul, South Korea.
It is a really beautiful place with a lake, hills and even an annual flower festival.
I spent a very happy childhood there, and I was just an ordinary boy.
I used to look up at the night sky in wonder. And I used to dream the dreams of a boy.
I used to imagine that I was a superhero who could save the world. In an intro to
one of our early albums, there's a line that says, "my heart stopped when I was
maybe 9 or 10. Looking back, I think that's what I began to worry about what
other people thought of me and starting seeing myself through their eyes.
I stopped looking up at the night skies, the stars.
I stopped daydreaming. Instead I just tried to jam myself into
the molds that other people made, soon I began to shut out my own voice
and started to listen to the voices of others. No one called out my name and
neither did I. My heart stopped in my eyes closed shut." So like this, we all
lost our names we became like ghosts. But I had one sanctuary, and that was music.
There was a small voice inside of me that said, "wake up man, and listen to
yourself." But it took me quite a long time to hear music call out my real name.
even after making the decision to join BTS, there were a lot of hurdles. Some
people might not believe it, but most people thought we were hopeless, and sometimes
I just wanted to quit. But I think I was very lucky that I didn't give it all up,
and I'm sure that I and we will keep stumbling and falling like this.
BTS has become artists performing in those huge stadiums and selling millions of
albums right now, but I am still an ordinary 24 year old guy. If there's
anything that I've achieved, it was only possible because I have my other BTS
members right by my side, and because of the love and support that our army fans
all over the world made for us. And maybe, I made a mistake yesterday,
but yesterday's me is still me. Today, I am who I am with all of my faults and my
mistakes. Tomorrow, I might be a tiny bit wiser. And that'd be me too.
These faults and mistakes are what I am, making up the brightest stars in the
constellation of my life. I have come to love myself for who I am,
for who I was, and for who I hope to become. I'd like to say (the) one last thing:
after releasing our LOVE yourself albums and launching the LOVE myself campaign,
we started to hear remarkable stories from our fans all over the world, how our
message to help them overcome the hardships in life and start loving
themselves. Those stories constantly remind us of our responsibility,
so let's take one more step we have learned to love ourselves. So now, I urge you to speak yourself.
I'd like to ask all of you: what is your name?
What excites you and makes your heart beat? Tell me your story, I want to hear
your voice. I want to hear your conviction. No matter who you are, where you are from
Your skin color, your gender identity, just speak yourself. Find your name.
And find your voice by speaking yourself. I'm Kim Namjoon, and also RM of BTS.
I'm an idol, and I'm an artist (IDOL everyone!) from a small town in Korea. Like most people, I've made many
and plenty mistakes in my life. I have many faults and I have many more fears,
but I'm gonna embrace myself as hard as I can. And I'm starting to love myself
gradually, just little by little. What is your name? Speak (for) yourself.
Thank you very much.
(Secretary General is lowkey an ARMY asking for a selfie) Thank you very much with so many young fans around the world, it was a pleasure
having BTS with us. and I'm thankful that you use your platform and creativity to
reach young audiences with positive messages about what it means to be a
young person in the world today.