Kim Namjoon, also known as RM, is a South Korean rapper, songwriter, and leader of the popular K-pop group BTS.
Here are 10 interesting facts about him:
1. Birthdate and Childhood:
Kim Namjoon was born on September 12, 1994, in Dongjak District, Seoul, South Korea. He grew up in Ilsan District, Goyang, where his family moved when he was aged four or five. He has a younger sister. As a child, RM largely learned English by watching the American series, “Friends” with his mother.
As a student, he actively wrote poetry and often received awards for his writing. He posted his work to an online poetry website for roughly one year, where he received moderate attention. As a result, RM expressed interest in pursuing a literary career but later decided against it. When he was twelve years old, he studied in New Zealand for four months.
2. Multilingual Skills:
RM is known for his impressive language skills. He is fluent in Korean, English, and Japanese. He has stated that he learned English by watching the TV show “Friends.”
RM is usually BTS’ spokesperson at Western interviews due to his amazing communication skills in English. He also often translates the members speech and also makes them understand various questions asked during interviews.
3. Stage Name Origin:
Before joining BTS, RM was an underground rapper. His stage name at the time was Runch Randa. RM’s stage name was inspired by his former name, Rap Monster. He changed it to RM in 2017, which now stands for “Real Me” or “Rap Monster.”
4. IQ Score:
RM is not only a great artist but has even performed remarkably well in academics as well. According to various reports, RM is known to have an IQ score of 148, which is considered to be in the highly gifted range. He scored 900 on the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) exam when he was only in middle school.
5. Music Production:
At age 11, in fifth grade, RM became interested in hip-hop music after hearing Epik High’s “Fly”. RM has always been interested in poetry and hip hop music which paved the way for his passion in writing his own lyrics and music. He started writing songs in 2007 and shared them on online hip-hop community sites. In addition to rapping, RM is also involved in music production and song writing. He has contributed to the creation of many BTS songs, showcasing his talent as a lyricist and composer.
6. Solo Projects:
RM has released several solo projects, including mixtapes such as “RM” (2015) and “Mono” (2018). These albums explore various themes and showcase his versatility as an artist. After BTS announced their hiatus and focus on solo albums and military service, RM released his album, “Indigo” which involves melodious songs written and composed by him.
7. Art and Literature Enthusiast:
RM is known for his interest in art and has mentioned artists like Basquiat and Dalí as inspirations. He’s also visited art museums and galleries around the world.
When not busy working on new projects, the rapper and songwriter can be spotted at museums and art exhibitions. RM’s Instagram posts are proof that he is very much into art, architecture, and literature.
RM is an avid reader and often recommends books to fans. He’s known to appreciate the works of Murakami Haruki and other authors.
8. Philanthropic Efforts:
RM and BTS as a whole have been involved in various charitable initiatives. They have donated large sums of money to organizations like UNICEF and have actively promoted causes related to education and mental health.
RM also was the spokesperson of the band and gave a speech at the UN headquarters at New York. He is also the Public Relations ambassador for the Ministry of National Defence. RM along with BTS members were invited at the White House by the US Government to speak on anti – Asian hate crimes.
9. Known as "God of Destruction":
Apart from his nicknames “RapMon”, “RM”, “Joon”, “Joonie”, the BTS group leader has a unique and funny nickname. He is often referred to as the “God of Destruction” for his clumsiness and ability of breaking and destroying things. This personality of Kim Namjoon can be seen in various Run BTS episodes, Bon Voyage, BTS: In the Soop as well as at interviews.
10. Inspirational Leader:
RM is regarded as an inspirational leader of BTS. He often shares meaningful and introspective messages with fans, encouraging self-love, personal growth, and positivity. Kim Namjoon has been the best leader who has not only inspired the BTS members but also took care of them when they were teenagers while he himself was one. It is also said that RM used read hate comments and translate it as appreciation and positive comments to the members.
RM’s talents, leadership, and contributions to both BTS and the music industry have made him a respected and influential figure in the world of K-pop and beyond.
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