The leader of South Korean boy group BTS, RM, is once again making headlines, this time not for his music, but for his open views on marriage, parenthood, and the pressures faced by the younger generation in South Korea.
In a live broadcast on the platform Weverse on October 5, 2025, the 31-year-old rapper spoke candidly about his current state of mind, revealing that he was feeling anxious and depressed again, feelings that often surfaced as he prepared for the album.
He also admitted he wasn't very good at dealing with loneliness. "As we get older, we're supposed to be friends with ourselves and learn how to spend time alone, but I still can't stay home alone," he said.
He concluded, "I guess that's why people get married—to find a partner, a lifelong companion to share." However, RM, who was born in 1994, compared his situation to that of his parents' generation, who were already married and having children at his age.
"Thinking about how they got married, had me, and raised me at that age is incredible. Now that I'm in my 30s, I realize how difficult it is to raise children and build a family," he said. He noted that many of her friends are choosing not to marry, a significant social shift.
"If you meet the right person at the right time, you might get married. But if you don't, you might end up single. There's no right answer," he stressed. RM also commented on the social pressures surrounding marriage, especially for women.
He expressed his hope that people would live their lives on their own terms. He also expressed the view that choosing marriage as an escape from loneliness is unreasonable. "If you can't stand being alone, marriage won't solve it.
And after marriage, you might end up wanting more alone time," RM later explained. Regarding becoming a parent, RM is hesitant. "Raising myself is hard enough. Raising another life, that's something I might not be able to do," he said.
He concluded his views, "I think people born in the 1990s are the first generation in Korea to view marriage as a choice, not a necessity. Everyone should follow their own choices." His candid comments quickly went viral and sparked debate on Korean social media.
In addition to his personal reflections, RM is also preparing for his next big project: becoming a curator and collaborator for an art exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, scheduled to run from October 2026 to February 2027.
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