JBTV ALUM BTS DELIVER HISTORICAL SPEECH AT THE UNITED NATIONS

The K-Pop supergroup from Seoul pose for a photo before their first-ever US television performance on Tuesday, March 28th, 2017 at JBTV Music Television in Chicago, IL. (Bobby Talamine/JBTV Music Television)

​JBTV alumni BTS gave a speech at the United Nation's "Youth 2030" event in New York on Monday, September 24th, 2018. The event was held to launch Generation Unlimited, a UNICEF initiative “that aims to ensure that every young person is in education, learning, training or employment by 2030.”  

The Korean-pop supergroup addressed the UN with a powerful speech empowering young people to love themselves and to find their voice. They are the first K-pop group to speak at the United Nations. 

Leader Kim Nam Joon, or better known as "RM," took to the mic, joined by his six fellow members -- Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook. 

During the speech, RM shared his personal story of finding self-actualization after fighting through adversity. “I tried to jam myself into the other molds that other people made,” he said. “Soon, I began to shut out my own voice and listen to the voice of others. No one called out my name and neither did I. My heart stopped and my eyes closed shut. Like this, I—we—all lost our names. We became like ghosts. But I had one sanctuary, and that was music.”

RM also talked about the hardships BTS faced when they were first started out in the industry. “Even after making the decision to join BTS, there were a lot of hurdles,” he said. “Some people might not believe but most people thought we were hopeless, and sometimes I just wanted to quit.”​

With their incredible worldwide success, it is difficult to imagine that BTS was ever a struggling group. Formed in 2013, BTS is now K-pop’s most successful group, selling out stadium shows and receiving an abundance of love and support from their "ARMY" fanbase.

Despite the group's colossal success, RM said he is  “still an ordinary 24-year-old guy.” “Yesterday's me is still me,” he said. “Today I am who I am with all of my faults and my mistakes. Tomorrow I might be a tiny bit wiser and that would be me too. These faults and mistakes are what I am, making up the brightest stars in the constellation of my life. I have come to love myself for who I am, for who I was, and for who I hope to become.”

The speech went viral as the hashtag #BTSxUnitedNations trended worldwide on Twitter for several hours.

BTS is currently on the North America leg of the BTS World Tour: Love Yourself. They will perform at the United Center in Chicago, IL on October 2nd and 3rd.  

Watch the full speech below, via The Washington Post.

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Filed By Natalie Baltierra
​Photos By Bobby Talamine