BTS have gone through an extraordinary journey—from “unknown” rookies in the K-pop scene to the “21st-century pop icons”, achieving unprecedented global success, awards, and recognition. They have transcended the boundaries of conventional K-pop, attracting au∂ιєnces worldwide with music rooted in their own stories and messages carrying profound social impact.

For many young idols and artists, BTS are both a powerful source of inspiration and a benchmark they aspire to reach. Even more admirable is that BTS not only inspire others but also play an important role in opening doors for emerging talent. By publicly introducing songs or praising new artists, the members of BTS have created valuable opportunities for promising young musicians to gain greater visibility and even international recognition.

Hanroro is a prime example of a young artist whose career changed dramatically thanks to timely support from K-pop superstars—more specifically, RM!

Born in 2000, Hanroro is a talented singer-songwriter known for her modern in∂ιє-rock style. Her music carries strong literary influences and acoustic tones, focusing on vocals and storytelling to convey emotion. Although she debuted in March 2022 with a unique style, in a saturated market like K-pop it was difficult for Hanroro to attract much attention among the many rookie idols debuting around the same time.

However, everything changed when RM noticed the young talent. In 2022, RM captured a screenshot of his phone while playing Ipchun (Let Me Love My Youth)—her debut song—and posted it on his Instagram Story to share with fans.

Sharing songs he enjoys is soмєтнing RM often does, but this simple act marked a turning point in Hanroro’s career. The track Ipchun (Let Me Love My Youth) quickly spread among listeners and eventually earned her a nomination for Best Modern Rock Song at the 2023 кσяєαn  Music Awards.

Even more notably, in November 2025 she held her solo concert “Hanroro 4th Solo Concert: Gяαρєfruit Apricot Club” at кσяєα University’s Hwajeong Gymnasium in Seoul, attracting around 10,000 attendees over two days. For comparison, her first solo concert after debuting in 2022 had only about 200 attendees across two days.

In addition, compared with a two-day concert in June 2024 at a venue with 700 seats that drew a total of 1,400 fans, this growth was remarkable. In just about a year and five months, Hanroro’s fanbase expanded significantly—a development built on the wider exposure RM helped bring to her before a global au∂ιєnce.

Hanroro has also openly acknowledged the “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” that RM gave her, expressing gratitude for the recognition his support brought in a recent interview with LEmag. She said: “I had debuted, but while I was still living with the thought that ‘I’m just a potato,’ RM gave me a shoutout on Instagram in the early morning. At first, I was really surprised because, no lie, from middle school to high school, every moment was truly colored by BTS’s music. So, at first, I was really ѕнσ¢кed. I was grateful".

She added: "It was just so great. It was really great, and the situation itself, where I could comfort the artist who used to comfort my heart, was very meaningful to me. It was the moment I realized that more and more people were receiving my music. So, I became even more determined to work harder.”

When asked, “Are there any aspects that feel tangible in terms of numbers?” she explained: “There definitely are some aspects. Since those artists have so many overseas fans, I can directly feel that there has been an increase in the influx of international fans. Previously, there were many comments from кσяєαns, but these days, I see a lot of comments in English and Indonesian. It seems like a positive change has occurred.”

In another interview with Live Wire, Hanroro also expressed how grateful she felt for RM’s support early in her career. She shared that he played a major role in drawing attention to her and boosting her popularity. “A few years ago, I thought I’d been hacked because I got so many DMs in the middle of the night, but RM gave me a shoutout. I was surprised, but I was so grateful,” she said.

Notably, in the same interview, she mentioned that RM was one of the reasons she was given the opportunity to appear as a guest performer at Coldplay’s “Music of the Spheres World Tour” in кσяєα last April.

While Hanroro’s talent remains the core reason she continues to retain fans, RM’s appearance certainly made a difference. This case perfectly illustrates the admirable qualities of K-pop superstars. BTS not only pave the way for others but also actively use their influence to support young artists taking their first steps in music.

Hanroro’s story also demonstrates the immense influence of RM and BTS within the entertainment industry—and in helping K-pop grow into a dynamic and ever-expanding ecosystem!