BTS’ RM shared his honest take on marriage, parenthood, and the societal pressures that millennials and Gen Z face in South Korea.
Photo: RM
In a live broadcast on October 5, the BTS leader got vulnerable as he reflected on his life while preparing for his new album.
“I’ve been feeling some anxiety and depression again recently… It always happens when I’m preparing for an album. I spend a lot of time alone, and I’m not good at handling loneliness. As you get older, you’re supposed to become friends with yourself and learn how to spend time alone — but I still can’t stay home by myself,” he revealed.
The K-pop idol also shared that he still feels like a child and that, despite being in his 30s, he’s living a completely different life from his parents, who were already raising him at his age.
“I still feel like a child. Thinking about how they got married, had me, and raised me at that age — it’s incredible. Now that I’m in my 30s, I realize how hard it is to raise a child and build a family,” he said.
RM’s thoughts on marriage and parenthood
RM also opened up about the societal pressure to get married, saying that there is “no correct answer” when it comes to deciding if or when to tie the knot.
“If you meet the right person at the right time, you might get married. But if not, you might live alone. There’s no correct answer,” he said.
Now 32, he reflected on the societal pressures surrounding marriage, noting that women often face harsher judgment and stronger pressure when it comes to marrying and having children. However, he affirmed that getting married to escape loneliness is not the right thing to do.
“People feel pressured about marriage, and there are realistic aspects to consider. Especially for women, I think society and the media keep pressuring them about having children and other issues. I just wish everyone could live according to their own pace,” he shared.
“If someone chooses marriage as a way to escape loneliness, I don’t think that’s the right reason. And about having children—I’m not sure about that either. Honestly, I can barely handle raising myself. Having a new life isn’t something that goes the way you want,” he pondered.
When it comes to parenthood, he shared that he is not yet at a point in his life where he feels ready to raise a child.
“It’s hard enough raising myself. Raising another life — that’s something I might not be capable of,” he opened up. “When I think about how much trouble I caused my parents growing up, I imagine how frustrated I’d feel.”
“I think people born in the 1990s are the first generation in Korea to see marriage as an option, not a requirement. Everyone should follow their own choices.”
RM is the leader of the powerhouse K-pop group BTS. Outside of the group, he has released two studio albums: “Indigo” in 2022 and “Right Place, Wrong Person” in 2024.
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