Within K-pop, it is extremely common to find idols who have adopted stage names, often chosen by companies, instead of using the ones they received from their parents when they were born.
Examples include Lee Knowby Stray Kids, which is actually called Lee Minho; Winterfrom aespa, which is Kim Minjeong; Minnieof (G)I-DLE is Nicha Yontararak; tenfrom NCT, is Chittaphon Leechaiyapornkul; Cha Eunwooby ASTRO, whose real name is Lee Dongmin; among many others.
In BTS, this is no different. Despite having members who use their real names, such as Jimin It is Jungkookothers continue with artistic names. RMfor example, which is actually called Kim Namjoonuntil reaching the way it is currently called, has already adopted different artistic names, including Wide, The Nexist, Stealo It is Rap Monster.
However, while he was still a trainee, the BTS leader was still known by another name: Run Randa. But how did it come about?
The origin of Runch Randa
According to himself RM during the first episode of “The MapleStory Originals | MapleStory
Namjoon explains that in 2007, even before joining BigHit Entertainment (currently BigHit Music), when he was working in an underground hip hop café, he received a suggestion from a friend who taught him rap.
“I was looking for a rapper name in 2007 and I had a friend who taught me how to rap. About Garion, Eminem and Outsider. I shared a MapleStory account with that friend, and the character’s name was Runch Randa… I was thinking about a name and I just went with it,” the idol revealed.
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Stage or real name?
Despite having already gone through numerous artistic names, today Namjoon only responds to RM, as it fits more with your music. In a note shared via the BTS fan cafe, he said:
“At some point, I started introducing myself as Rapmon or RM instead of my full name Rap Monster. So I would like to change the name I use in promotions to ‘RM’, which I think is more in line with the music I intend to make and also has a broader spectrum” (via Soompi).
In the year 2023, during an interview with the newspaper El País, RM revealed that, currently, he prefers to be recognized by the general public by his stage name rather than by his real name, so that he can still maintain a bit of privacy despite his enormous success around the world.
“We all have a past, a dark story, as we say in Korea. Runch Randa was my nickname in an RPG, then I wanted to be, you know, a ‘rap monster’, then I matured…”, explained the idol. “I prefer my name to be known by as few people as possible. I’m not John Lennon or Paul McCartney. I can stay in a hotel comfortably and I like that.”
Source: Recreio
