“What does it mean to be a K-Pop star as a thirty year old?” - This is the question BTS’ leader RM unpacks in his documentary RM: Right People, Wrong Place.

People know BTS’s RM as many things: a leader, a rapper, a songwriter, a producer, a translator, a philanthropist. For 10 years, we have seen RM under the spotlights of stardom and international success, but away from all of this, who is RM—or rather, who is Kim Namjoon?

RM: Right People, Wrong Place is a beautiful and insightful look into these questions during the period RM worked on his second studio album Right Place, Wrong Person in the months leading up to his mandatory military service. The documentary looks deeply into the creative process that went into the songwriting, performance, photography and music video.

“For the first time in a while, I feel like I’m existing as myself” - RM

Right from the start, the documentary invokes a sense of nostalgia—the candid montages of the scenery over a grainy 8mm film, shots in the studio or on a hike give the film a sense of authenticity. This comes from the feeling of watching RM away from his idol persona, but as a young man rediscovering himself to foster creativity through the process of making an album.

A weight was gradually being lifted off his shoulders that allowed him to fully embrace the creative process.

In a particularly funny scene, RM sits in the studio discussing the duplicity of his feelings surrounding his career. ‘Love’ and ‘hate’, ‘happy’ and ‘sad’, ‘ups’ and ‘downs’, ‘I miss you’ and ‘stay out of my sight!’. RM defines his experience about his work in oppositions; it is obvious that he loves his career, but is also conflicted by his desire to live authentically and not solely under a polished image. 

In his own words, being the leader of BTS helped him to remain balanced between his all or nothing mentality but as the members were due to enlist in the military, he finds himself wondering what to do with the part of himself that he describes as ‘emotionally volatile’. Because at the end of the day, the RM that can remain balanced and the RM that works in oppositions are all still RM.

Right People, Right Place

In between the numerous studio sessions, we see Team RM, a small group of producers also working on the album, travelling between Seoul, Tokyo and London, where they film music videos and take concept photos. Whilst this is all for work, there is a sense of ease amongst the team, who feel more like a group of close friends. 

Team RM’s presence give more depth to the creative process behind Right Place, Wrong Person and RM’s feelings throughout everything. Through the solo interviews, and their moments together (be it working, filming or in their downtime), it shows a sense of commonality through music.

Meaningful collaborations seemed to be the backbone of the whole project, to validate RM’s feelings and challenge his doubt, serving as a reminder of how the best work can come to life with the right people in the right place.

The Real RM

The most impactful aspect of the documentary is the contrast between RM’s refined persona as leader of BTS and his more carefree but complex self. RM: Right People, Wrong Place is a story of self-acceptance as much as it is a recounting of the album’s production. 

As RM lets go of the pressure that comes with being the leader of a successful boy group, he learns to accept the parts of himself that are more difficult to understand. Right Place, Wrong Person is an album that encompasses the feeling of being out of place.

At the beginning, we see moments where RM feels lost and even conflicted, but by the end he slowly develops a sense of clarity and acceptance, acknowledging how his time producing the album helped him feel more like himself.

On a personal note, as a fan of BTS, I can say for certain that RM: Right People, Wrong Place is the closest I’ve felt to seeing Kim Namjoon. Away from the stage lights, away from the press and away from all the busyness of being an idol, I felt like I got to experience RM feeling more aligned with who he truly is. 

The camaraderie between Team RM closely resembles that of BTS, giving a sense of comfort even when they aren’t all together. This documentary allows us to see RM as more than just a performer, but an ordinary person navigating the complexities of fame, creativity and identity. Both the album and the documentary are works of introspective art that deepen our appreciation for RM as a creative. 

Whatever his endeavours are next, be it as a soloist or with BTS, I am sure his newfound clarity will bring him the inspiration to continue pursuing his passions with authenticity.

Edited by Chelsea Cheetham.