"BTS PAVED THE WAY" trends on X as SSENSE magazine lauds Kim Namjoon and the band for their UN speeches and achievements outside music

On August 21, 2024, SSENSE magazine wrote about BTS frontman Kim Namjoo, aka RM, and his second solo album, Right Place, Wrong Person. The album was released on May 24 via BIGHIT MUSIC since the rapper-songwriter has been serving in the South Korean military since December 11, 2023.

Meanwhile, SSENSE lauded RM and his bandmates for their accomplishments outside the music industry, such as Namjoon's speech at the 2019 UNICEF, addressing the UN General Assembly three times in 2018, 2020, and 2021, and visiting the White House in 2022 to meet President Joe Biden and talk about preventative steps against hate crimes against Asians.

The K-pop sensation is the only K-pop and Korean act to get nominated for the Grammy. Furthermore, they are also the cultural ambassadors for South Korea and were appointed as the country's Special Presidential Envoy for Future Generations and Culture in 2021.

Fans (ARMY) took pride in the band's accolades, which were underscored by the publication. As a result, ARMYs trended "BTS PAVED THE WAY" globally on X (formerly Twitter) to cheer for the group.

Admirers also shared their thoughts on how the group has contributed in bringing "change" by addressing societal norms and stereotypes.

"Despite how much they get criticised by others, it’s IMPOSSIBLE to not recognise BTS’ contributions to society. RM & the boys literally changed the world and took K-pop on a new height. It’s evident. Who did it like them before them? Evry1 is benefiting from BTS. Say “Thank You.”" one fan commented.

"BTS ALWAYS PAVED THE WAY. But not many can walk in their way of living being THE BULLETPROOF SPEARHEAD WITH STRONG MENTAL FORTITUDE IN UNITY!" one fan wrote.

"That is how you do an introduction, straight FACTS....Our leader. our seven men. so so so proud!" another fan said.

They highlighted how BTS' songs have often focused on "mental health awareness, self-hatred, and racism," among others, raising awareness on sensitive subjects.

"Lmaooooo…. I keep forgetting at some point, they were at the White House discussing policy with Joe," one other fan added.

"The article just give more meaning to the project ... Who else have read it.... It is beautiful," one fan commented.

"RM doesn’t just write songs. He writes rebellious ideas via music that usher change in this world. His music is about mental health awareness, dreams, self-hate & more. No wonder BTS made it to the global scale coz they want to make a change for the better," another fan added.

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BTS' RM's inspiration behind creating Right Place, Wrong Person

SSENSE spoke with San Yawn—the creative director behind Right Place, Wrong Person and a close friend of RM—about the inspiration behind the album. He told how "Team RM" rallied behind the BTS leader to add fresh perspective to his artistic flair, contributing to his new solo album. He joked that their groupchat name was ‘Only you (RM) could have done this.’

For the uninitiated, "Team RM" includes producers San Yawn, JNKYRD, and Sehoon. For more than a year, artists including Seokjun, Jimin, Soobin, Ryota, and Mahito worked on the project. San Yawn added that the team is about rebuilding and breaking norms to create new music.

San Yawn recalled how he was hiking alongside BTS' Kim Namjoon on the wrong trail and met a dead end. In the moments, Namjoon joked that they were at the wrong place, which the producer later used as a suggestion for the album title. Namjoon then came up with the final title, "Right Place, Wrong Person."

He revealed that they started working on the album with Namjoon in February 2023. But their first session was in May 2023 at Music Village 1939 in Gapyeon when "Team RM" alongside Oh Hyuk and Lee Inwoo from Hyukoh and Kuo from Sunset Rollercoaster completed the album's pre-release track, Come back to me.

The music producer and creative director further elaborated how the celebrated BTS musician has different "facets" to himself, which were explored while creating the album tracks.

"Sometimes he’s clumsy; sometimes he understands complex philosophical texts but struggles with simple words. He loves reading books at home but also enjoys hanging out with friends until late. I thought he was one of the most unique and paradoxical characters among my friends."

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Kim Namjoon will be discharged from the military in June 2025 after completing 18 months of mandatory military service. The rest of his bandmates are also serving in the military alongside him, apart from Kim Seok-jin, who was discharged on June 12, 2024. The K-pop group will resume group activities post June 2025.