On October 6 (KST), BTS leader RM (Namjoon) held a live broadcast where he spoke candidly about marriage and having children — a sensitive topic in South Korean society — sparking heated discussions on Korean forums.
During the broadcast, RM addressed the societal pressures placed on individuals, especially women, regarding marriage and childbirth.
He stated that many people often feel forced into marriage due to social and media expectations rather than personal choice, saying:
“When it comes to marriage, I think a lot of people feel pressured — whether by reality or society. Especially women, because of the constant pressure from media and people around them about having children or other responsibilities. It feels like we’re all being forced into a certain mold, but honestly, I wish everyone could live life at their own pace. I don’t think there’s one right answer.”
He also shared his honest view on loneliness and relationships:
“From my perspective, if someone can’t handle being alone, will marriage really solve that? Because even when you’re married, there will still be moments when you want to be alone… that’s just human nature. So, I think people who are comfortable with being alone can also be good partners when they’re with someone — and vice versa.
But choosing marriage as an escape from loneliness… I’m not sure that’s the right approach.”
RM also opened up about parenthood, showing hesitation and honesty as he admitted how difficult the idea seems to him:
“As for having kids, I really don’t know. I already find it hard to take care of myself, so raising another life… it doesn’t go the way you want it to. Kids have their own personalities. When I think about how much trouble I caused my parents as a child, I can’t help but think, ‘What if I had a kid like me?’ Ah, just imagining it… I’d love them, of course, but it would be tough.”
“There’s no right answer to any of this. Married people speak only from a married person’s perspective, and unmarried people speak only from their own experiences — neither truly understands the other. So, I think we should just take people’s stories as they are — as their experiences.”
He concluded his thoughts on marriage and parenthood, saying:
“In some way, I think our generation — those of us born in the 1990s — are the first in Korea to see marriage as a true choice. So, I believe we should all follow our own paths.”
RM’s sincere and thoughtful remarks quickly caught the attention of Korean netizens, earning him widespread praise. Many even said he should run for president one day!
- “From Namjoon, I learned that people can truly change. He seems like such a great person.”
- “When there was controversy about his past comments, he accepted the criticism, met with professors in women’s studies to learn about feminism, and kept growing. He’s really admirable.”
- “I want to marry Namjoon.”
- “I loved how he talked about reading and working out, too.”
- “Whether he marries or not, he’ll live well. Honestly, if he does have kids, I’d love to see how he raises them — people who think like him usually raise great children. But live however you want!”
- “How long will people keep holding onto the past? If he admitted his mistakes, learned, and improved, we should praise him. That’s how people grow.”
- “I totally agree with what he said — marriage as an escape from loneliness is not it. He’s amazing.”
- “When he gets older, he should run for president. That’s definitely his path.”
- “Yeah, same here. Just taking care of myself is enough; marriage and children would be too much.”
- “Exactly. Getting married just because you feel lonely is very dangerous.”
- “As expected from a true leader.”
- “What’s beautiful about his words is that he didn’t center it around children — he spoke with empathy toward women, emphasizing that people shouldn’t live within rigid molds. It’s such a natural thought, yet rare to hear from a man.”
