BTS leader RM is back in the spotlight — not for his music, but for his refreshingly honest take on marriage, loneliness, and generational struggles in South Korea.
During a Weverse livestream on October 5, the 31-year-old rapper spoke candidly about his mental state and the emotional toll of creating new music. His vulnerability immediately resonated with fans worldwide.
“I’ve been feeling some anxiety and depression again,” RM admitted. “It always happens when I’m preparing for an album. I spend a lot of time alone, and I’m not good at handling loneliness. You’re supposed to learn how to be friends with yourself as you grow older — but I still can’t stay home alone.”
Though his home is beautifully decorated, he confessed that he rarely spends time there except to sleep.
“I still don’t feel like an adult,” he said. “Maybe that’s why people get married — to find someone to share life with.”
“I still feel like a kid”
Born in 1994, RM reflected on how different his life is from that of his parents’ generation.
“When my parents were my age, I was already three years old,” he said. “Now that I’m in my 30s, I realize how incredible that is — raising a child and managing a family at that age is no small thing.”
While a few of his friends have settled down — “maybe two or three out of ten,” he estimated — most haven’t, mirroring a growing generational shift in South Korea.
“If you meet the right person at the right time, great. If not, that’s fine too. There’s no right answer.”
“Marriage is an option, not an obligation”
RM also discussed the social pressure surrounding marriage and motherhood, particularly for women.
“It feels like society and the media keep pressuring women about childbirth,” he said. “But everyone should live life their own way. Marriage won’t fix loneliness — and once you’re married, you might crave more time alone. Choosing marriage as an escape doesn’t make sense.”
He further admitted that the idea of parenthood feels daunting.
“It’s hard enough taking care of myself,” RM said with a laugh. “Raising another life is something I might not be capable of. But I think people born in the 1990s are the first generation in Korea to see marriage as a choice, not a duty.”
His introspective reflections — particularly about accepting solitude and redefining marriage — have gone viral across Korean social media, where younger fans praised his progressive mindset while older audiences sparked heated debates.
Meanwhile, RM continues to channel his emotions into art. He’s currently preparing a collaborative exhibition with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, scheduled for October 2026 to February 2027. The show will feature over 200 works, including pieces from his personal collection, with RM serving as curator.
