BTS’s RM exposes the price of perfection in K-pop, says industry pressure is rooted in Korea’s painful past

Trust BTS’s RM to stir the pot with eloquence, depth, and a sprinkle of defiance. In a rare moment of candour, the rapper peeled back the glossy layers of the K-pop industry to reveal the harsh realities beneath, and, unsurprisingly, his label is probably wishing he would have just stuck to safe PR soundbites.

BTS’s RM exposes the price of perfection in K-pop | Credit: X

BTS leader RM calls out the dark side of K-pop

During a recent interview that is now doing the rounds on K-forums like TheQoo, RM was asked about the notoriously intense training system idols undergo, years of competition, survival-style regimens, and pressure that does not stop even after debut. His answer? Raw, honest, and enough to make any PR team sweat.

RM on being aware of what his company will not like

RM reportedly said he was aware his company “doesn’t like it” when he talks about such topics, especially when it could be twisted into headlines like “RM calls it a horrible system.” But instead of dodging the question, he acknowledged the system's duality, it may be brutal, but it also shaped what K-pop is today. Improvements have been made, he noted, especially around contracts and training methods, but the system’s core intensity still exists.

BTS’s RM exposes the price of perfection in K-pop | Credit: X

RM on Korea’s cultural obsession

The conversation did not stop there. When the topic shifted to Korea’s cultural obsession with perfection and relentless work ethic, RM took a deep dive into history, giving international fans a perspective they often miss. He reflected on how Korea’s rapid rise from devastation to global influence created a national psyche built on hustle and pressure. He pointed out that outsiders, from countries with colonial pasts, often fail to understand the urgency that drives Korean ambition.

BTS’s RM exposes the price of perfection in K-pop | Credit: X

And just like that, RM turned what could have been a sugarcoated Q&A into a masterclass on K-pop, Korean resilience, and the emotional tax of chasing perfection.

Netizens react

The response from fans? Overwhelmingly positive. ARMYs praised him for being thoughtful, fearless, and grounded in cultural truth. As one fan put it, “He is not just BTS’s leader. He is a voice for a generation.”

So while HYBE might be nervously sipping their coffee, RM is out here doing what he does best, keeping it real.