RM Live - 11/13

하하하2 (hahaha2)

My commentary in green.
Full disclosure - watching this live pissed me off a little bit because of how many times RM had to address that he'd be speaking Korean - not because he can't speak English but because he wanted to... big deep breath
I know my readers are not the problem but I might make a graphic or something to the effect of 'you can speak whatever language you want' so we can spam weverse in perpetuity to offset the asinine comments from entitled, obnoxious brats.
Stay tuned on that front... there are only so many hours in the day but this frustrated me 🥺😠😭

now it works
hi everyone
i lowered the resolution
no, this is
how to do it in the new mode... no, what is this?
i don't know how to do it in landscape mode
i'm kind of
i'm kinda swollen [in the face]

i have bruising on my face
i got a facial massage
right now this whole area is bruised, all the capillaries are burst here right now
anyway, i'm doing random things i haven't done before [re: his facial massage]

is it too dark? i don't know
i just turned this [live] on briefly before working out
anyway, even if i speak in korean, you all understand, right?
the translation works well, right?
huh? it got cut off?

i can't see what you all are saying
hey, what's up
what's up
but is the internet acting weird?
my phone..

🐿️"so goodlooking"
🐿️"jyooniee"

oh j-hope? j-hope where are you?

oh this is the emergency exit

sorry the only place I could do this was in my studio..

he's addressing how brightly it's shining into the camera

I just came to say quick hello
because there was a gap in my schedule [before working out]

outside there are *의전팀 team hyungs so I just turned it on here

*의전팀 (eejun team) - sorta like "event/ceremony protocols mgmt team" - I don't know if there's an exact equivalent concept/word for it in English but basically in Korea this is a big deal because etiquette/formality are big cultural values. This is the team that handles things like greeting/escorting VIPs/guests, formal event procedures and protocols, coordinating order, ensuring etiquette/timing/decorum, handling official greetings/bows/introductions/etc. - you'd see this kind of staff in government events, big corporate events, award shows, etc. - it'd be an oversimplification to call it just 'event management' or just 'security detail' or something like that even those elements are baked in~

it's unclear if the team was like 'active' (as in escorting/planning/moving/doing stuff at the moment) or just busy preparing for something -idk what was going on but no doubt HYBE has SO many moving parts - i'm sure it was busy in the building. the POINT being - it was too chaotic to conduct the live in a different part of the building so he conducted the live from his studio space

oh yes i had a fun trip
💬are you doing well these days?
what does it even mean to be doing well right..

i mean just.. just.. like ..more or less.. i mean it's not exactly a time that's conducive to being like super duper happy
but i mean.. i guess living like this - isn't this what it means to live well?
yea everyone.. please be happy and healthy always
i always hope that everything you're pursuing goes well

i'm doing things i haven't done before
working on stuff and preparing the album
i mean i appreciate what you're saying but if you have anything you want to say or ask since it's just a brief live
i'll answer sincerely before i head out

oh is today *purple day? see tiny koala claps
happy purple day!

*purple day - on November 12, 2016 at their 3rd Muster event, BTS V told the audience "보라해" (borahae) coining one of the most popular and beloved phrases among BTS & ARMY, "I purple you" - V explained that since purple is the last color of the rainbow, it symbolizes being connected (BTS & ARMY) endlessly - an explanation he thought up on the spot/that day for BTS/ARMY- not a Korean symbol

보라 (bora) = purple

💬the screen is shaking
oh shoot sorry - i put my hands on the desk (and clapped) and it shook

*노안이 왔나?
why's it getting so hard to read?

*노안이 왔나? (noanee watna?) - literally, "has presbyopia come for me?" - contextually, "has old age come for my eyes?" / "am i getting old? (re: eyes)" etc.

i apologize.. this desk is old so if i tap it even a little bit - it shakes/is wobbly

yea i like techno - i like house music too
am i tired? no
i got a massage so
i'm not in *good condition
i have a lot of bruising
i'm doing things i haven't done before...

*don't worry - in this case, he's not saying that overall, he's not in good condition - he's saying the state of his face is not where he'd like it to be because it's puffy due to some bruising/swollenness from getting a face massage

he also keeps mentioning 'i'm doing things i haven't done before' - and i think this might be because even he's a bit surprised he tried out something like this and is also surprised by the outcome... when he says face massage - he's referring to 경락 마사지 (gyeong-nak massage) which is a VERRRYY common massage in Korea and focuses on lymph drainage, reducing swelling/puffiness (in the long run), helping circulation - purported to also help some with jawline tightening, "V-line" face-slimming, etc. with consistent enough massages

ah is the subtitles not working?
the subtitles aren't coming out?
subtitles not coming out? subtitles?
'subtitle'? 'no'?

yes we have a title now.. we have a title
mm but is a title really that important? that's my thinking anyway
what's important is that the album comes out well
Run BTS ...things like this we're discussing what to do about it

you can't see the subtitles? the subtitles are coming out
there's a lot of talk about the album but as you know whenever i say something
it kind of becomes a spoiler so i'll hold back on saying anything
but anyway just to let you know that we're preparing well
linking everything together because whenever i say something...the *company might get caught off guard

*당황하실 수 있으니까 (danghwanghasil su isseunikka) - literally, "because you might be flustered/embarrassed" - contextually, "because you might get caught off guard" / "because you might be put on the spot" / "because you might be surprised" etc.

i have no idea what you're expecting but we're doing/prepping well
i'll just say that

i mean even if I don't say it in english isn't it all going out through the subtitles?
the subtitles work better than i imagined

*from his perspective, all the comments (from fans to the idols) are being translated into Korean as an included feature of weverse, right? so he doesn't know, at this point, that subtitles for viewers are only available for the digital membership holders

like ..trying to communicate like this [via live] always seems..challenging
but i also feel like i should just share what I want during these times too.. i'm torn

as in, he's torn between whether to use lives as a form of dialogue where he speaks and listens and interacts or just kinda comes on to mainly announce/share what he wants and then dips. this is the result of entitled fans that demand things - "say this, speak this way, do this" without regard for what it is they're saying at all.

it must feel insane to be like "how are you?" and then see comments flooding in like "do a cute face" "speak in english" :flag pic: - it wouldn't feel like communicating. it'd feel like 2, parallel 1-way streets... in which case yea all the more reason to just 'say my piece' and go.. i wish the worst of our fandom would grow up. idk if it's being so self-centered or being saturated by a consumer mentality but they're humans first and foremost, artists second, and entertainers after that... sigh

nope i can't give spoilers
i can't give spoilers
the more i talk the more my own sorta chaos might color the album so i'll just hold back
yea well
anyway the pressure's def ramped up now
i know i posted a short note about the music yesterday

i think it came out really well.. is coming out really well
and..idk i think it's good

tbh while creating it - we had a lot of doubts
but now that things are a bit organized and listening to it back again
i think it's evolving really well into something different
like we're taking the good parts of what we've done before
and moving into new areas too
i think like ..after being in LA for 2 months - really feels like that time paid off

as far as grammys go i mean.. we can't just win it because we want it right?

for us.. more than winning something.. it feels more important for us (together) to quietly do what we're meant to do, right?
that's what i think

new songs? new songs are awesome

everyone - if you enable subtitles, everything will be translated in real time
it's not because i can't speak english but because if you enable subtitles everything is being translated...

re: album .. i mean to speak on it further is a bit..
anyway..
i don't know what people are expecting but i think this is the right direction for us
the album is good ..our album is very good

and you don't have to worry because each of us is taking this comeback very seriously..

oh subtitles are only if you have a membership?
ohh okay okay
then that's the problem

why would i be mad? i'm not mad..
why would i turn on a live if i was mad?

the following is conducted mostly in english but i'm just transcribing it so you can follow along

guys guys chill outt
it's gonna be really great

okay i got it - i didn't know about the rules

💬dancehall or techno?
techno for sure

i color my hair every time
if it gets too yellow, i always color it

the rules that you have to pay for the subtitles..

i love you too guys
i love you
yea i just can't say anything but i love you we love you we're waiting for 2026
and every time the process is the same
there's always..
so hard just to stand and bear those like practicing and...
the time just we get ready and prepare for the comeback
But we need time to get it really done great and perfect
So let's wait some several months and then...we'll be back in a new state with a *cooler ones

*here, RM seems to have tried to directly/literally translate a Korean phrase into English so it sounds a little wonky but basically in Korean, the phrase "we'll come back with a cooler appearance" means "we'll be back more rehearsed, more organized, more fit, more [insert the development they're intending to pack in], etc." not like they're trying to be "cool" or aspiring for coolness or anything like that

it's also important to remember that it's been a while since RM has had to speak in english on the fly all the time. after being discharged, he's definitely had a lot of public appearances but most of them were instances where he could speak Korean comfortably, had a translator, and/or could prepare [a speech/whatever] in advance.. as is with any second language, when it's not used all the time, it can get rusty. speaking as a fully (theoretically bilingual Korean-American) that uses these translations as a time-bound way to practice listening/reading/typing in Korean because I don't naturally have any reason to use Korean much these days... and it rusts with time

we're gonna visit you
we're gonna visit you guys no worries

my favorite song right now?
i don't really have a favorite song right now

study hard for the exams yea..

fighting fighting!

it's g onna be so so nice to see you guys again
i just can't wait to see you guys in 2026

(back to Korean/English)

i feel like at this point it... it might be easier to do the live in english and then just let the subtitles take it from there...
sigh i don't really know how best to do this
i'll ask the company for advice later
it's proving to be difficult no matter how i do it

i'm not tired at all - i'm great
it's just that i got a face massage
i layed down for an hour or so
i'm okay guys

everything's going to be really fine
everything will be back in its proper place
we'll be back too
we'll keep doing our utmost in our respective roles
then just prepare the music well
come out and have fun with you guys
that's all there is to it, right?

we're gonna just do..

i'm not angry.. don't say things like that
i'm not angry.. i'm cool. i'm just a little bit calmed down

any advice for 22 years old?
just do anything it's gonna be okay

dinner? yea i'm thinking about what i should eat for dinner

yup we're practicing - don't worry
cuz once again.. no matter what it takes to come back the right way
so you don't have to worry

my life is more or less just fine
it's okay
one good one bad

i did diet but then i went to japan and ate well so i gained a bit again

Do I have a fever? No, I don't have a fever. I'm like just like I have some bruise on my face. That's all

what are your plans for Christmas? Nothing. Probably practicing?
i don't got no plans for Christmas

still taking medicine?
no i quit - i quit it in July
i quit it in LA
but just in case I do still have some on me.. insomnia meds
yea i do keep some around and i might sleep a bit late but i don't need them to sleep
but i'm not taking the meds..
cuz when i'm on these meds ..one becomes sorta zonked.. kinda like a zombie..

oh the Pepero?
the Pepero on Instagram from yesterday
i'm going to an *hakwon right now and the owner there gave it to me
i think its homemade

*학원 (hakwon) - private academy/tutoring center - in Korea, these are everywhere and kids go to them after school for extra tutoring/practice in various subjects - adults also go to hagwons for learning languages, skills, hobbies, etc.

i'd love it if you all stayed healthy and happy

we are getting ready thought

mala tang? mala tang i tried it once and it was good
but i don't go out of my way to pay to eat it

is it colder? yes yes it's like the entrance of winter

oh which hakwon do i attend? no that's a secret

kyoto was great and tokyo was also really great

guys like you know.. regardless of things happening throughout the years
let's just stay focused between you and us
it's just - you know - all the things we have done was between BTS and ARMY
so there are too many things like going around.. out there.. but i just want to not to pay attention
just on this album.. and the things we're gonna do next year with you guys

let's hug timestamp
let's hug
let's hug all day all night

what's my favorite movie? um there's a movie called The World of Love and it was good

let's hug
let's go
let's hug
let's hug.. laugh.. and heal

sighh

2026 year of BTS and ARMY
let's fucking goO

i didn't have any dinner right now
i'm going to work out after this

you make my life better too

oh i had brough a bunch of rpwp albums here
and hobi asked for one so i gave it to him

::bb koala laughs::

yes i'm excited for the new comeback

it's getting quite cold these days

you're the best too

i want to visit everywhere
like every content if possible

it's like.. around 7 o'clock now? yea around 7.. 6:30? 6?

we didn't have snow yet here

all the members are having a very good time on their own
and i just met them yesterday for the meeting

i wanna remove my cap but my hair looks like shit so i can't so i'm sorry
it's for the manners it's for your eyes..
it's like super this.. ::gestures to hat hair::

so i'm shy

::spends a long time just reading comments quietly not saying anything::

alright.. um.. okay..
everyone i hear everything you're saying
thank you...

i'm doing well. .we're all doing well

everyone's trying to come back in their best shape
like dieting and running are one thing but .. it's to increase our stamina
stamina/physical strength is the name of the game in order to do anything [once they start] (so beyond just their outward appearance, they're adjusting their diet and running and such to increase their physical stamina)

and like.. when you run.. these frustrating little thoughts melt always
so that's also why we're running

we have to build up our stamina for everything we'll have to take on next year - so that's another reason for running

we have a variety of genres in the new album
including genres we haven't tried before..
you have a lot to look forward to

..........just in case you're a bit newer to BTS, their catalog of music spans the most wide range of genres I've ever witnessed any one group attempt - let alone digest masterfully from hip hop/rap to edm to kpop to ballads to everythingggg in between.. so for RM to say that they're broaching new genres is so so so exciting!

if you're only/mostly familiar with their greatest hits (which are all awesome) - I encourage you to do some deeper dives into their lesser known songs. the sheer RANGE of sounds is truly so inspiring.

so stay healthy... and
it's the end of the year and getting colder
so be careful not to catch a cold

oh i have no end of year plans - i think we'll just keep practicing?
i think we have like continuous practices scheduled so we'll just be practicing
we'll practice and then maybe meet some friends at night or something
i don't have any huge plans
i've already traveled and all that
so i think until the comeback i'll just focus on the comeback

cuz it's a big burden for us too

our last concert was over 3 years ago and with everything we're trying to do again
everyone's approaching it with a very sincere heart and a lot of gravitas - we're all looking forward to it too so you all can get exciteddd

we're all doing well.. all spending our time well
rather than saying any little things -this or that.. like
next year when we make our comeback.. we'll just show you our best selves

always stay healthy
at the end of the year
spend a lot of good time with your family too
i want you all to understand just how much we're also looking forward to next year

imma go workout now, k?

guys stay healthy
see you in 2026
alright? i love you
heart you
bye i'm gonna workout