BTS leader RM has made another significant contribution to Korean art and cultural heritage by donating 100 million won to support the National Museum of Korea’s acquisition of cultural artifacts.
The museum announced the donation on September 30, stating that RM made the contribution on September 29 through a nonprofit organization supporting the museum.
The funds will be used to purchase cultural artifacts that will eventually become part of the museum’s collection.
The donation comes several months after RM was appointed the first global ambassador of the National Museum of Korea in June 2026.
Through the role, he has been involved in efforts to promote the museum and Korean culture to audiences both in South Korea and internationally.
RM has repeatedly demonstrated an interest in Korean art and cultural heritage.
His latest contribution continues a history of supporting projects connected to the preservation, promotion, and accessibility of Korean cultural works.
The organization through which he made the donation supports the museum in several areas, including artifact acquisitions, academic research, and facility development.
RM Continues His Support for Korean Cultural Heritage
Following the announcement of his donation, RM shared his thoughts about supporting the museum in his role as global ambassador.
“I am pleased to be able to support the museum as its global ambassador,” RM said. “I will continue working with the museum to promote it and our culture.”
The donation will specifically support the acquisition of artifacts for the museum.
The nonprofit organization plans to use the funds to purchase items and donate them to the National Museum of Korea, helping expand the institution’s collection.
The supporting organization has previously participated in similar projects.
Among the artifacts it has acquired and donated to the museum are a Joseon-era mother-of-pearl lacquer box featuring lotus and vine designs, purchased in 2023, and a cursive-script calligraphy work by Hwang Gi-ro, acquired in 2024.
These examples highlight the organization’s role in helping the museum obtain cultural objects for public preservation and exhibition.
RM’s support for Korean cultural heritage also predates his appointment as the museum’s global ambassador.
In 2021 and 2022, he donated 100 million won each year to the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, an organization involved in preserving, restoring, and promoting Korean cultural heritage located outside Korea.
The National Museum of Korea has also expressed hope that RM’s continued involvement in the arts and cultural sector will encourage greater public interest in Korean heritage and museums.
The museum said it plans to respond to that growing interest through exhibitions and other cultural programs.
RM’s Art Collection Takes the Spotlight in San Francisco
The donation arrives at a particularly notable moment in RM’s activities as an art collector and supporter of museums.
Alongside his work with the National Museum of Korea, he is also preparing for an exhibition featuring his personal art collection at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA).
Titled “RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me,” the exhibition brings together works from RM’s collection of Korean modern and contemporary art with pieces from SFMOMA’s own collection.
RM is serving as a co-curator for the exhibition, which opens on October 3 and is scheduled to run through February 7, 2027.
The exhibition marks the first time RM is presenting his personal collection under his own name in this format.
At the opening ceremony, he reflected on the personal nature of collecting art, saying,
“This is the first occasion I am sharing my collection with my name on it.
I believe few things reveal a person as frankly as a collection someone has built over a long time.”
With his latest donation, RM is continuing to connect his interest in art with efforts to support Korean cultural heritage.
His contribution to the National Museum of Korea will help fund future artifact acquisitions, while his role as global ambassador provides another avenue for promoting Korean culture.
The donation and upcoming SFMOMA exhibition together highlight RM’s ongoing involvement with museums, art, and cultural heritage beyond his career as a member of BTS.
As the National Museum of Korea prepares to use the donated funds for future acquisitions, RM has reiterated his intention to continue working with the institution to promote Korean culture to audiences around the world.
