Chile Denies BTS Use of National Stadium, Sparking Mass Fan Protest

Chile has denied BTS permission to use Santiago National Stadium for a world tour stop, triggering a fierce backlash from local fans.

According to El País and other major outlets, on the 6th, local time, the National Institute of Sports (IND), part of Chile's Ministry of Sports, decided not to approve BTS's planned "ARIRANG" concert at Santiago National Stadium in October. The IND said installing a 360-degree central stage could damage the stadium's turf and interfere with major sporting events — including Chile's national soccer team matches scheduled for November — and cited those risks as reasons for denying the booking.

The shows drew an enthusiastic response: tickets sold out for all three performances almost immediately after they went on sale through the local promoter. But the sudden denial of the venue booking left the concerts' future in doubt.

Hundreds of local BTS fans (known as ARMY) poured into downtown Santiago on the 5th to stage a large protest. Carrying signs reading "Music and art do not damage stadiums," they marched as far as the area near La Moneda Palace, Chile's presidential palace, and sharply condemned the authorities' decision. Some protesters went further, accusing the government of using the high-profile BTS concert to deflect attention from a political crisis.

As the fallout grew, the Chilean government said it would revisit the decision. After the local promoter submitted a new technical proposal that includes enhanced turf-protection measures, authorities said they would re-examine whether to approve the concert after an additional review.

BTS has been on a world tour since April, starting in South Korea in April, with 88 shows in 34 cities worldwide, the largest single-tour world tour in K-pop. The group's agency, Big Hit Music, has not yet issued an official statement regarding the Chile venue denial.