BTS fandom floods minister's social media after National Stadium denial

Chilean fans of the South Korean group BTS, known as ARMY, have flooded social media with protests after the National Sports Institute (IND) denied authorization for the group's concerts at the National Stadium. The decision has sparked a significant digital backlash, primarily directed at the Instagram account of Sports Minister Natalia Duco.

According to media reports, the minister's most recent Instagram post received approximately 24,000 comments, a figure far exceeding her usual engagement. These messages included fan chants, criticisms, song lyrics, Korean recipes, and pleas for a resolution. The IND cited technical criteria as the reason for its refusal, pointing to the stadium's field condition, the impact of a 360-degree stage setup, and the need to preserve prior commitments, including an official Chilean national team match and the Teletón 2026 charity event.

The fandom's frustration was further articulated in a statement released by ARMY Chile. The group demanded responses from DG Medios, the IND, and the Ministry of Sports. In their communication, ARMY Chile insisted that all possible avenues must be exhausted to ensure BTS performs in Chile on the agreed dates. They proposed either using the National Stadium with adequate technical assurances or finding an alternative venue.

"BTS deserves to come to Chile. ARMY Chile deserves to be heard," the fandom's statement declared. As the situation remains unresolved, uncertainty persists regarding the final location for the highly anticipated concerts.

“

BTS deserves to come to Chile. ARMY Chile deserves to be heard.