In the poll “The Best Leaders in K-Pop” out of 100 nominees conducted by Dabeme, RM was named No.1 with an overwhelming number of fan votes, once again reaffirming his status as the All-Time Best Leader in K-Pop. RM’s leadership is not only widely recognized by the public, but even veteran journalists in the media industry have acknowledged that the BTS rapper is an exceptional leader among exceptional leaders.
He is a songwriter and music producer with a deep artistic vision, contributing to shaping BTS’s musical identity and messages for over a decade. As BTS’s primary spokesperson, he possesses sharp communication sкιℓℓs, logical thinking, and a calm, composed demeanor. Most notably, he demonstrates outstanding competence in responding and acting in his role as the group’s leader.
One example clearly shows why no one else could have fulfilled this role as perfectly as RM. During a livestream after all BTS members completed their military service, RM directly addressed a common question circulating online at the time: “Many people are asking ‘Why did you guys throw late 2025 away?'"
His statement sparked a huge reaction, with many fans surprised by how openly he addressed a topic that had been widely discussed online. At the same time, ARMYs realized that his understanding of public reactions toward BTS was incredibly quick and accurate, leading them to wonder how he could grasp and respond to public discourse so rapidly.
RM soon revealed his secret to staying updated on every rumor surrounding BTS. “There are ARMYs around me so if soмєтнing happens there are many people who send things to me right away, but since this is a live, I have to be careful with my words. I’m not the type to explain everything because I have many flaws but I still want to talk about what I can, hoping it helps”, he simply said.
When RM shared this, many fans suddenly realized soмєтнing they had forgotten: even if BTS themselves do not frequently update on social media, the people around them certainly do. Some fans jokingly said they should be more careful because BTS’s “eyes and ears” could be anyone.
More than anything, fans admired RM’s perceptiveness as a leader. Why? Because the faster he grasps news, the sooner he can address misinformation or unsettling rumors before they spiral out of control. RM’s livestream and his response after calling out the issue were a perfect example.
He directly addressed the speculation, saying: “Well, of course we didn’t want to throw it too. We wanted to do a lot after discharge but there are reasons (we didn’t) that we can’t say. I have no right to say it. But I, too wanted to. Our last con was 2022. It’s been more than three years. Of course we are sincere and want to do a concert right away. But as you know, time flew and we need preparation... I’m someone who wants to work right now more than ever, it’s driving me insane. I hope you’re aware of that.”
At this point, RM not only showed his speed in grasping and handling rumors but also demonstrated his maturity in representing the group. With just a short livestream, he calmed negative reactions, eliminated distortions, and even concluded with a powerful statement: “The people who used to like us, and then disliked us later might even return when we do well. We’ll be working with that sort of mindset.”
This level of composure and leadership is soмєтнing few idols possess, and many believe only RM could pull off such a stance in the K-pop industry. Netizens commented: “He’s so charismatic,” “Namjoon is so right,” “He knows everything,” “Speak louder, my king,” and more.
On a side note, not only RM but most BTS members quietly follow what fans discuss online about the group. ARMYs have even been “victims” of BTS teasing their incorrect theories about the ARIRANG album. RM started it by saying, “No one was able to predict the meaning of the logo” with Jimin chiming in agreement: "At first, the fans were making predictions".
Then, j-hope directly brought up the now-infamous “Hello” theory that ARMY had firmly believed in for months, mentioning, “Jin hyung said “Hello.”" Jimin added, “We were live in the U.S., right?”
Looking back on the incident, Jin could only laugh helplessly at the sheer imagination of ARMY. Still chuckling, he defended himself by saying, “I was just saying hello.” V did not miss the chance to twist the knife further into fans’ already bleeding hearts of embarrαѕѕment, adding, “People said “hello” felt strange, so it must have some meaning." RM then delivered the final blow with a matter-of-fact conclusion: "Hyung was just greeting everyone.”
From this, fans learned that BTS knows everything fans are talking about, and that they should never underestimate how informed the idols are, even if they seem low-key. To avoid maximum embarrαѕѕment, ARMYs joked that they should be more cautious about any theories or topics they discuss!
