RM On The Pressures He Faced As The BTS Leader: 'I Wanted To Die'

The leader of the globally sensational K-pop group BTS, Kim Namjoon, better known by his stage name RM, recently opened up about his challenges in the role. He discussed the tremendous pressure and expectations that he has faced throughout the years. In an exchange on Bangtan TV’s YouTube channel, RM discussed the difficulties that come with leading BTS. He discussed his obligations, challenges, and responsibilities with Jimin, another band member. RM has been the band’s leader for more than a decade. He clarified that in a variety of speeches, interviews, and public appearances, he has been expected to represent BTS.

“In our team, I am the one who says all the nice things and right things. I set up to represent the team. That’s what I always do. And people expect me to make speeches and do interviews in English. And to speak out and things like that. ," he says.

“But actually, you (Jimin) know me so you know this. I’m actually just an unimportant 29-year-old guy living in Korea. That’s just who I am," he further explained to Jimin.

He also said that though he can’t call himself “average," he still is an ordinary Korean person who is living a life that is slightly different in comparison to others. RM had become a member of BTS as a teenager, and the pressures have been immense since then.

Talking about the challenges that he and his group BTS has been facing he says, “For past ten years we felt this burden. At some point, we had to just be conscientious and different," he added.

RM also explained that the constant scrutiny and high standards placed on him as a member and as the leader of BTS had been too much for him to handle at times. He says he felt overwhelmed by the need to meet everyone’s expectations. He added that if he had continued to care, it would have taken him to a very low point in life.

“If I kept caring about what everyone else thought, if I kept going like this, I just… I felt like I would want to die," RM explained.

He also said that he wasn’t always able to speak his mind and that is why he created this kind of music, referring to his album.

Watch the full video below:

RM’s latest album, Right Place, Wrong Person, has just released on May 24 this year. Meanwhile, he is serving his mandatory military service in the Korean army, along with all other BTS members.