Chile's rejection of BTS stadium concerts sparks protest among fans, politicians

When BTS couldn’t take the stage, their fans did.

Hundreds of BTS fans, collectively known as Army, marched through downtown Santiago, Chile, on Sunday after Chilean authorities rejected plans for the group’s concerts at the city’s national stadium.

The fans, holding signs reading “BTS to the National Stadium,” peacefully marched toward La Moneda Palace, Chile’s presidential palace. They sang along to the band’s hits, with many dressed in purple, BTS’s signature color.

“We’re very angry,” one protester told Agencia EFE, a Spanish news outlet. “The concerts can’t be canceled. [The authorities are] taking away our chance to see artists whom we love and who have helped us through life.”

Chile’s National Sports Institute (IND), which oversees approvals for events at the national stadium, recently announced that it would not approve three BTS concerts scheduled for October.

The agency explained the decision was based “solely on technical grounds.” It cited concerns that installing a 360-degree stage could damage the stadium’s grass and interfere with future football matches and other large-scale events, as the stage structure would place about 600 tons of weight on the field.

The Chilean government also criticized local concert promoter DG Medios for selling tickets before securing official approval to use the stadium.

Fans and opposition politicians, however, questioned the government’s explanation and accused it of making a politically motivated decision to divert public attention from domestic issues, according to a report by Agencia EFE.

Some opposition lawmakers also criticized the government for failing to coordinate a major event and called for greater transparency and accountability regarding the decision.

BY KIM JI-HYE [[email protected]]