RM donates 100 million won to support veterans in honor of his birthday

RM of the boy band BTS donated 100 million won ($74,600) to the "Everyone's Veterans Dream" project to support veterans on Thursday, in celebration of his birthday.

According to his agency, BigHit Music, RM made the donation as part of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs' "Uniform Worker Appreciation Campaign," which aims to foster respect and appreciation for uniformed workers, which includes members of the armed forces, police, firefighters and prison officers.

The funds will be used to honor and support people who have received, and continue to receive, the national merit alongside bereaved families of uniformed service members.

"I have recently come to feel the dedication of so many people to our country. I hope this contribution can provide some small help to all the heroes who are committed to our nation and to those working for peace," RM said through his agency.

He also extended his gratitude to his fans, saying, "I would like to express my sincere thanks to ARMY for always showering me with love and congratulations."

The boy band member, whose real name is Kim Nam-joon, has made various donations in celebration of his birthday in the past.

Last year, he donated 100 million won to the Korean Society of Legal Medicine to support professional training.

In 2021 and 2022, he made similar donations to the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation to support the restoration and preservation of Korean artifacts abroad.

Since May last year, RM has also served as an honorary ambassador for the Defense Ministry's Agency for KIA Recovery & Identification.

Founded in 2000, the recovery agency focuses on locating and identifying soldiers lost in the Korean War.

RM made his official debut as a member of BTS in 2013. His documentary film "RM: Right People, Wrong Place" (2024) is set to premiere at the Busan International Film Festival, which runs from Oct. 2.