BTS leader RM has long been known for his deep appreciation of art, often sharing his museum visits and favorite exhibitions with fans. Now, he has revealed an exciting personal goal: to open his own art gallery within the next five years.
The K-pop superstar, whose real name is Kim Namjoon, has frequently shown his love for visual arts. Freshly discharged from the military, he was appointed ambassador for Samsung Art TV. As an ambassador, he was invited to attend and hold a special talk session at Art Basel. The biggest art fair is happening from June 19 to 22.
During the special session, RM shared his dream to build a personal art space by 2030. He shared,
I really want to build a personal space in Seoul, maybe in 5 years. I am seriously looking for a place to build it. From my perspective, there are not many museums or places or spaces that you can, like, aesthetically appreciate. I’m looking for a place, this is my first confession. Bringing together personality, Korean-ness, East and West, old and new.
Well, there’s a Korean saying “검이불루 화이불치.” It means to be modest yet refined, elegant without being excessive. I hope it can be a space where Korean artists feel really proud.
RM attended the event as a representative of Samsung Art TV, which displays artwork when not in use. However, he shared that he personally prefers traditional paintings.
“Me, personally I prefer the traditional paintings and sculptures but that’s because I live in the pop music industry which is really fast and hectic.”
Kim always appreciates meaningful art pieces and artists by visiting exhibitions and galleries. He frequently shares standout artworks with his 47.5 million followers on Instagram.
Prior to his military enlistment in December 2023, he attended Korean visual artist Kang Seo Kyeong at Leeum Museum in Seoul in collaboration with Bottega Veneta. He has served as an ambassador for Bottega Veneta since 2023.
Meanwhile, RM completed military service on June 10, 2025, and this was his first official schedule after discharge. It is expected that he will resume solo activities as the BTS comeback is reportedly pushed to March 2026.
