Macrons' surprise appearance at BTS concert draws mixed reactions

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte made an unexpected appearance at a concert by the South Korean group BTS at the Stade de France. The presidential couple was spotted in the stands among the tens of thousands of fans gathered for the K-pop group's performance.

Videos circulating on social media showed the Macrons engaging with the concert atmosphere. They were seen holding "Army Bombs," the iconic light sticks used by BTS fans, and the president was also observed filming a portion of the show with his phone. Following the concert, Macron shared a clip of the hit song "Dynamite" on his Instagram account with the caption, "Welcome to Paris!"

According to Gala, the presidential couple even met the seven BTS members backstage after the show. This visit comes a few months after the Macrons' official trip to South Korea in April, where they attended a state dinner in Seoul and met with K-pop figures, highlighting a growing political interest in South Korea's cultural influence.

The Macrons' presence at the concert, however, elicited a range of reactions online. While some international media outlets like Hello! Canada reported the event with surprise, social media responses were more divided. Some users expressed displeasure, questioning their motives, while others reacted with irony or strong criticism, with one user speculating Brigitte Macron might be trying to recruit the band for a charity initiative.

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Welcome to Paris!