RM, the leader of K-pop supergroup BTS, has been named the first global ambassador of the National Museum of Korea to help promote the country’s cultural heritage around the world, the museum said Saturday.
The singer, whose real name is Kim Nam-joon, was named in recognition of his longstanding interest in Korean traditional culture and art, as well as his efforts to support the preservation of cultural heritage, according to the museum.
RM donated 100 million won ($65,231) each in 2021 and 2022 to the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation to support the preservation and restoration of Korean cultural assets abroad.
An avid art collector, RM is set to hold a special exhibition of works from his personal collection at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in October.
The singer will participate in various promotional activities for the museum and help introduce Korean history and traditional culture to global audiences.
“I will do my best to help more people appreciate the beauty and value of our cultural heritage,” RM said.
You Hong-june, director of the museum, expressed hope that RM would help raise the museum’s global profile. “It is meaningful to share the beauty of our cultural heritage with the world together with RM.”
