BTS RM’s Speech At The Military Graduation Ceremony Sparks Heated Debate Among ARMYs

Many felt iffy about the content.
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Serah S. Cherrie
Serah S. Cherrie

Recently, BTS members V and RM completed their basic training in the military and were selected as among the only six “Elite Graduate Trainees” recognized for their expectational performance in the 27th Recruit Training Regiment.

V (left) and RM (right) | @rkive/Instagram

In some of the videos posted online by family members of other soldiers in the same regiment, the BTS members were spotted receiving awards for this outstanding achievement at the graduation ceremony.

During the event, RM also delivered a speech through a pre-recorded video message, talking in detail about his experience in the military so far. He began his piece by saying that he had postponed his military enlistment for a long time and, hence, was anxious about many things as he entered his service at a relatively older age.

It’s true that I postponed my enlistment for a long time and felt a lot of anxieties and worries because of enlisting at a fairly older age. Because I entered late, most of my fellow comrades that I shared the dormitory with were young trainees who were about 10 years my junior.

— RM

The BTS rapper said that the comprehensive military training made him realize the importance of the defense forces in South Korea, which is a divided state currently in the midst of a ceasefire.

Thanks to the mental strength training, I realized the necessity of the military and the need for basic military training in the Republic of Korea, a divided and armistice country.

— RM

Looking back at his training period, RM said that one of the most memorable moments was the night march with his comrades.

I had many experiences that I otherwise couldn’t have been a part of had it not been for the Army Training Center. In particular, the night march I completed a few days ago is the most memorable. As I marched with my comrades all night, we looked at the stars and cheered each other on, and I was able to feel the camaraderie that I had only heard of before.

— RM

He also thanked the officers and platoon leaders who led him through the challenging training sessions and made it enjoyable for him.

Thanks to the great officers and platoon leaders, I was able to complete the unfamiliar military training in a rewarding and fun way.

— RM

In his concluding lines, RM said that a world without conscription might be ideal, but the current reality of South Korea requires the sacrifice of many to maintain a peaceful environment for its citizens.

It would be ideal to live in a world where no one needed to learn marksmanship, but I realized that the peace that South Korea has enjoyed for over 70 years was thanks to the noble sacrifice and dedicated efforts of many. I will do my best to carry out my duties for the remainder of my military service.

— RM

After the graduation ceremony, the video of RM’s speech became a hot topic, and multiple major media outlets even reported on it, stating that RM was said to have volunteered to give this speech. But ARMYs have expressed mixed opinions about it. On the one hand, many were skeptical about the authenticity of it all, even considering the possibility of it being coerced. Most of them pointed out that RM’s worldview, whatever he has shared so far publicly, does not align with the content.

On the other, some praised the speech, pointing out that he shared his positive experience with fellow younger trainees to reassure them of the unfamiliar enlistment process.

A third group of fans was overall critical of anyone engaging with the content in any capacity, pointing out that the speech was never meant for fans and, hence, should be outside of the boundaries of any debate or discussion.

In light of this current debate, many brought up RM’s old political poetry to put the situation into perspective. You can read more about it here.

Source: Maeil Business

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