BTS' RM donates $74,600 to support veterans on his 30th birthday

K-pop band BTS member RM, born Kim Namjoon, has made a huge donation to the "Everyone's Veterans Dream" project to mark his 30th birthday. On Thursday, he pledged 100 million won (approximately $74,600) to the project as part of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs' Uniform Worker Appreciation Campaign.

RM's donation will go towards supporting veterans who have served South Korea as well as the bereaved families of fallen service members. "I have recently come to feel the dedication of so many people to our country," RM said in a statement.

"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. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the ARMY for always showering me with love and congratulations," it added.

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This is not RM’s first charitable contribution. Last year, he donated another 100 million won to the Korean Society of Legal Medicine to support professional training. He has also contributed to the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation for the restoration of Korean artifacts abroad.

Since May 2023, RM has been serving as an honorary ambassador for the Defense Ministry’s Agency for KIA Recovery & Identification, which helps recover the remains of soldiers killed in action.

RM made his debut with BTS in 2013 and has since risen to global fame alongside his six bandmates: Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook.

He is currently serving in the South Korean military. He began his service in 2023 and is expected to complete it in 2025.

In addition to his philanthropic efforts, RM is also giving time to his music and other projects. His upcoming documentary film, RM: Right People, Wrong Place, is set to premiere at the Busan International Film Festival on October 2, 2024.

Recently, he also released a new track titled "Neva Play", in collaboration with American rapper Megan Thee Stallion.