- By Tanya Garg
- Wed, 17 Jun 2026 04:08 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
BTS members addressed the United Nations' 73rd General Assembly in September 2018, where they spoke about the value of self-love for young people worldwide and their 'Love Myself' campaign with UNICEF. The boy band group was the first South Korean act to address a United Nations session.
The seven-minute speech by the seven-member group's leader kick started the United Nations' Generation Unlimited, an education and employment program for young people.
BTS' Kim Namjoon, popularly known as RM, talked all about what it takes to practice self-love and acceptance. He used one of the world’s biggest platforms to speak about acceptance and belonging.
Here is The Daily Jagran's analysis and key takeaways from this seven-minute 2018 speech:
Looking back, that’s when I began to worry about what other people thought of me and started seeing myself through their eyes. I stopped looking up at the stars at night. I stopped daydreaming. I tried to jam myself into moulds 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 and my eyes closed shut. So, like this, I, we, all lost our names. We became like ghosts.
BTS' Kim Nam-Joon aka RM
When BTS RM said this, it meant that sometimes we become so focused on what other people think about us that we stop being ourselves. We start changing to fit their expectations and slowly lose touch with our own thoughts and voice.
My takeaway would be not to let other people's opinions define who I am. It's important to listen to myself and stay true to who I really am, rather than trying to fit into someone else's idea of who I should be.
I had one sanctuary, and that was music. There was a small voice in me that said, 'Wake up, man, and listen to yourself!' But it took me a long time to hear music calling my name. Even after making the decision to join BTS, there were hurdles. Most people thought we were hopeless. Sometimes, I just wanted to quit. I think I was very lucky that I didn’t give it all up.
BTS' Kim Nam-Joon aka RM
According to me, when RM said this, it meant that even when you feel lost or discouraged, there is often something inside you that keeps calling you toward what you truly love. The journey may be difficult, and many people may doubt you, but that doesn't mean you should give up on yourself.
My takeaway would be to trust my passion and keep going even when things get hard. Not everyone will believe in me, but if I believe in myself and stay committed, I can overcome challenges and move towards my goals.
Maybe I made a mistake yesterday, but yesterday’s me is still me. I am who I am today, with all my faults. Tomorrow I might be a tiny bit wiser, and that’s 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 was, who I am, and who I hope to become.
BTS' Kim Nam-Joon aka RM
When RM said this, it meant that our mistakes, failures, and flaws are all part of our story. We don't have to be perfect to be proud of who we are. Every experience helps us learn and become a better version of ourselves.
My takeaway would be to stop being so hard on myself for past mistakes. Instead, I can accept them as lessons, appreciate how far I've come, and continue growing while learning to love myself a little more each day.
BTS' speech on self-love received immense love at the time and remains relevant to this day.
Sitting next to BTS at the occasion, Kim Jung-sook, the first lady of South Korea, expressed her pride and congratulated them on reaching the top of Billboard's albums chart at the time. The first lady also expressed gratitude to the band for using its music to support young people facing anxiety and concerns about their future.