RM Shares Why He Wanted to Be 'Completely Free and Honest' in New Doc — and What It Means for BTS (Exclusive)

• Right people, wrong place is a new documentary focusing on the making of BTS member RM’s second solo album, Right place, wrong person
• RM opens up about the documentary in an exclusive Q&A shared with PEOPLE
• “I want to fully express my story … and I want to be more than myself,” says the star

RM is known among BTS fans for his honesty. In the slang of 2024, he might (affectionately) be considered a chatterbox.

It’s a quality that often delights ARMY (as BTS’s fandom is known) and probably keeps the group’s management awake at night.

He speaks directly to fans about his personal and professional struggles on impromptu late-night live streams and talks about universals facing his generation on the floor of the United Nations. He shares ideas and inspiration like he can’t help himself—even occasionally getting himself into trouble by accidentally revealing details about the group’s future plans.

IN RM: Right people, wrong place, the rapper and K-pop superstar’s documentary (out Dec. 5) about the making of his critically acclaimed second solo album, Right place, wrong person, he is more open and honest than ever. And for the first time, it all seems to suit him.

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“There were a lot of aspects of my life that I couldn’t be honest about,” says RM, 30, reflecting on the project’s origins in a Q&A shared exclusively with PEOPLE. “And when I express these reasons, I’m not sure how my fans or outsiders will feel about it, but I just wanted to share my story. I want to fully express my story… and I want to be more of my true self.”

“As a team, we did a lot of ‘Love Yourself,'” he continues, referencing BTS’ album series of the same title that launched a sort of mission statement for the group that encourages self-love and acceptance. “But in the end, to love yourself, you have to be true to yourself to hold that key.”

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His album, which was released in May 2024, and the documentary, which debuted at the Busan International Film Festival in October, were filmed over eight months between BTS’ announcement in June 2022 that they would be taking a break (so they members could work on independent projects and fulfill mandatory military service in Korea) and RM’s own recruitment in December 2023.

Without his six other members filling the space around him, and lacking a busy schedule to keep him full speed ahead, RM (born Kim Namjoon) is relaxed, carefree, often introspective and occasionally joyfully aimless.

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Unlike the solo documentaries released by his bandmates, the BTS leader’s film does not feature live performances of the completed songs as the album was released after he began serving. It makes the whole thing very isolating, almost suffocating at times, as viewers experience the ebb and flow of doubt and enthusiasm, optimism and listlessness along with the artist.

Working with a group of musicians and producers, including his main collaborator, creative director San Yawn, viewers will see RM experimenting with new genres and sounds — and a new, slower beat that he says has allowed him to for the first time in a decade more career.

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“I’m an icon of ups and downs,” he jokes in the film. “I’m the icon of going full throttle or coming to a sudden stop. But I think my role as the leader of BTS has helped me curb that a bit. I’ve always told myself, focus on balance… But even this emotionally volatile me is very much me .So what should I do with this me?”

Even while working on solo projects, RM is always thinking about BTS and what awaits them when they reunite in 2025.

“I believe that the experience of being able to be completely free and honest will have a good effect on our team as BTS moves on to the next chapter,” he shares in the Q&A.

BTS/X

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“I believe that everything happens for a reason, so I think that I am driving in the right direction and that these events will certainly have a good effect when we get together again,” he adds. “That’s how I live, knowing that you realize what’s precious after you’ve lost it and you can only take something off after you’ve tried it. So this time I’m going to try to take it off.”

In the early days of BTS, RM’s moniker stood for “Rap Monster,” but he later wondered if it could stand for “Real Me,” a name that encompassed his many identities: rapper, idol, songwriter, philanthropist, collector art, leader, and occasional wanderer.

Speaking to the camera near the end of the film, he says, “I feel like I’m who I am for the first time in a long time.”

Right people, wrong place it’s in theaters on December 5.

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Source: HIS Education