He never opened an art gallery. He isn’t a professional painter. Yet BTS leader RM was named among 20 influential figures in South Korea’s art market. How did a K-pop musician earn that recognition?
In October 2025, the Korea Art Market 2025 report, produced by Seoul National University’s business research center with support from the Paradise Cultural Foundation, included Kim Namjoon among its inaugural Korea Art Market Power 20.
The list also featured collectors, museum leaders and established artists, including Hong Ra-hee and Suh Do-ho.
It wasn’t a numerical ranking. The selection reflected professional assessments of influence within Korea’s art market.
From Museum Visitor to Cultural Influencer
The report described RM as a passionate art collector and cultural influencer.
His influence wasn’t attributed simply to purchasing expensive paintings.
Instead, it highlighted his frequent museum visits and his habit of sharing exhibitions and artworks through social media.
For millions who first discovered RM through BTS, these posts offered an introduction to artists they might never have encountered otherwise.
A museum visit became something his followers could explore, discuss and potentially experience themselves.
Why Korean Artists Matter to RM
RM’s collection includes international artists, but Korean modern and contemporary art holds a particularly important place.
Artists such as Yun Hyong-keun and Chang Ucchin feature in his collection and his upcoming San Francisco exhibition.
RM has explained that discovering his cultural roots encouraged him to look more closely at Korean artists.
His interest goes beyond collecting. It also involves bringing attention to artistic traditions that remain less familiar to many international audiences.
His Support Goes Beyond Social Media
RM has also supported Korean cultural institutions financially.
In 2020, he donated 100 million won to support the publication and distribution of Korean art books.
In 2021 and 2022, he contributed another 100 million won each year toward preserving Korean cultural heritage held overseas.
In June 2026, he was appointed the first global ambassador of the National Museum of Korea.
These activities demonstrate how his involvement has extended from personal appreciation to public cultural projects.
What Do Korean Viewers Think?
A September 30 JTBC News report about RM’s San Francisco exhibition attracted hundreds of comments.
Some viewers praised his dedication to Korean art, while others focused on how he chose to use his financial resources and public influence.
One commenter expressed admiration for the way RM spends his money.
Another highlighted his efforts to introduce Korean artists through exhibitions and social media.
These comments don’t represent every Korean viewer, but they reveal a notable response: people are discussing RM not only as a musician, but also as someone engaged with cultural preservation.
From Korea’s Power 20 to SFMOMA
On October 3, 2026, RM’s private collection will be presented at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
The exhibition, RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me, brings together nearly 200 works from RM and the museum.
RM also participated in curating the exhibition, writing artwork descriptions and recording an audio guide.
For visitors, it offers a chance to encounter Korean art through the perspective of a musician who has spent nearly a decade collecting it.
For RM, it represents a new public chapter in an interest that began long before this exhibition.
An Influence That Goes Beyond Music
RM’s inclusion in Korea’s Power 20 wasn’t a declaration that he had become an art expert overnight.
It recognized the cultural reach of his collecting, museum visits and public engagement.
His story also raises a larger question: Can a musician help change how an international audience discovers visual art?
His activities provide a compelling example of how music, celebrity and cultural institutions can intersect.
And with his collection now entering an American museum, that conversation is reaching a new audience.