Why did BTS leader RM donate 100 million won to the National Museum of Korea?

The money was given to support acquisitions at the museum, and the museum said it will use the funds to buy objects for its collection. RM said he was happy to support the museum in his role as global ambassador.

When was RM appointed global ambassador of the National Museum of Korea?

RM was appointed the museum’s global ambassador in June. The museum said his support is part of a long-standing patronage of Korean art and culture.

What exhibition will feature RM’s art collection in San Francisco?

RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me opens Saturday at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. It brings together 140 works from RM’s collection and museum holdings and runs through Feb. 7, 2027.

BTS' RM donates $70,000 to National Museum of Korea for artifact acquisition

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Summary

BTS leader RM donated 100 million won to the National Museum of Korea to support acquisitions, the museum said Wednesday. The funds will be used to buy objects for the museum’s collection. Appointed as the museum’s global ambassador in June, RM said he was happy to support the museum and would keep working to promote it and Korean culture.

Key Facts

The museum said RM made the donation on Tuesday through the National Museum of Korea Foundation.
RM was appointed the museum’s global ambassador in June.
The museum said it expects his continued support to draw greater public interest in Korea’s cultural heritage and museums.
RM’s collection will be featured in San Francisco this week in RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me, which opens Saturday and runs through Feb. 7, 2027.

By Lee Hae-rin

Published Sep 30, 2026 1:47 pm KST

RM, right, the leader of K-pop group BTS, shakes hands with You Hong-june, director of the National Museum of Korea, after being named global ambassador of the museum in Seoul, June 19. Courtesy of National Museum of Korea

BTS leader RM has donated 100 million won ($70,000) to support acquisitions at the National Museum of Korea, extending his long-standing patronage of Korean art and culture.

The museum said Wednesday that RM, whose legal name is Kim Nam-joon, made the contribution on Tuesday through the National Museum of Korea Foundation. The funds will be used to acquire objects for the museum’s collection.

Appointed as the museum’s global ambassador in June, RM said he was pleased to offer support in the role.

“I am happy to be able to support the museum as its global ambassador,” RM said. “I will continue to work with the museum to promote it and our culture.”

The museum said it expects RM’s continued support of the arts and culture to draw greater public interest in Korea’s cultural heritage and museums, adding that it will respond with stronger exhibitions and programs.

Known as an avid art lover and collector, RM has supported cultural institutions and built a collection focused largely on Korean modern and contemporary art.

His collection will take center stage in San Francisco this week. “RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me” opens Saturday at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, bringing together 140 works from his collection and others from museum holdings. The exhibition runs through Feb. 7, 2027.

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