BTS Leader, RM Contributed Funds Of Rp1 Billion To Restore Korean Cultural Heritage

JAKARTA - RM, the leader of the K-pop group BTS donated 100 million won or around Rp. 1 billion for two consecutive years to the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation. The funds are intended to preserve and restore Korean cultural heritage outside South Korea.

Quoted from Yonhap's report on Thursday, the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation said the singer whose real name is Kim Nam-joon recently donated the money.

According to the foundation, RM requested that donations be used to preserve, restore and utilize Korean cultural assets abroad.

This marks the second time RM has donated 100 million won to a foundation affiliated with Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA), a South Korean government agency. Last year, RM donated the same amount of money, which was not known to the public at the time.

The Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation has worked with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) to preserve the "wrot" or wedding robe of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), which is owned by the US museum with money donated by the musician last year.

Hwarot is a traditional Korean dress worn during the Joseon era only by women from the kingdom for ceremonial events and then worn by commoners for weddings.

Experts say there are still around 40 wedding robes, including about 10 items outside South Korea. The Hwarot owned by LACMA is thought to date back to the early 20th century.

The foundation said it would bring cultural heritage objects to South Korea this month after going through the required procedures. The foundation added that the clothes will be displayed in Seoul next year and at LACMA in 2024.

Additional donations given this year will be used to make art brochures to raise world awareness about Korean paintings as requested by RM, according to the foundation.