BTS fans protest Chile concert ban, call it 'unjust'

Hundreds of BTS fans, known as ARMY, marched through Santiago on Sunday to protest the Chilean government's decision to suspend three concerts by the South Korean group. The fans, many dressed in the group's signature purple, carried banners with slogans like "BTS to the National Stadium" and "Neither music nor art harms stadiums."

Fans voiced their anger and disappointment, with 22-year-old Daniela Trujillo telling EFE, "We are very upset. They can't cancel the concert, they can't take away our chance to meet the people we love and who saved our lives." She highlighted the group's positive impact on their lives.

The National Institute of Sports had previously stated that the suspension was based "exclusively on technical criteria." The institution explained that the 360-degree stage setup required by BTS would damage the stadium's field, jeopardizing events like a national soccer team match and the Teletón 2026 telethon. Gisel Muñoz, from the band's fan club, noted that no other venue in Santiago could accommodate such a large event.

Some fans accused the government of using the concert cancellation as a "smokescreen" to divert attention from current domestic issues. Alejandra Villaroeal told EFE that the government is "hiding all the crap from these past four months" by canceling the concerts. Another fan, Daniela, echoed this sentiment, stating the government is "covering up their mess... taking away our dreams for which we waited many years."