BTS's RM donates 100 million won for preservation, restoration of Korean artifacts

RM of boy band BTS donated 100 million won ($71,590) for the second year in a row for the preservation and restoration of Korean artifacts outside of the country, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) and the Overseas Korean ..

RM of boy band BTS [NEWS1]

RM of boy band BTS donated 100 million won ($71,590) for the second year in a row for the preservation and restoration of Korean artifacts outside of the country, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) and the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation on Thursday.

“RM recently donated 100 million won to our foundation, saying he wants the money to go toward preserving, restoring and utilizing artifacts outside of the country,” said CHA and the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation.

The boy band member, whose real name is Kim Nam-joon, also donated 100 million won in September 2021. His donation was not made public at the time.

The foundation revealed that his donation last year went toward the preservation treatment of a Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) hwalot (traditional Korean wedding gown) currently owned by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) — a process done in collaboration with LACMA.

The foundation revealed that his donation last year went toward the preservation treatment of a Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) hwalot (traditional Korean wedding gown) current owned by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). [LACMA]

It is known that there are currently around 30 hwalot in Korea and 10 abroad. The well-preserved piece at LACMA is presumed to be made in the early 1900s and was donated to LACMA by an art collector in 1939.

The hwalot is set to return Korea this month. An official of the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation said the preservation treatment will take around five months, and afterward the hwalot will be put on public display at the National Palace Museum of Korea sometime next year, as well as at the LACMA in 2024.

RM’s donations this year will also go toward creating an art brochure introducing Korean paintings.

“Please use it to promote the beauty of Korean paintings to the world,” RM reportedly said.

The singer is known for showing great interest in art, often making headlines whenever he is spotted at art galleries in Korea and across the world.

BY HALEY YANG [yang.hyunjoo@joongang.co.kr]