Due to the 'BTS Set'... McDonald's Indonesia Store Suspends Operations

Temporary Closure of Over 10 Locations Due to Cluster Infection Concerns
Sequential Sales in 49 Countries from May to June

On the 9th (local time), delivery drivers gathered in front of a McDonald's store in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, trying to deliver the limited edition BTS set menu called the 'BTS Meal'. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] McDonald's limited edition 'BTS Set Menu' has gained explosive popularity in Indonesia, leading to the temporary closure of more than 10 local stores.

According to Indonesian media on the 10th, after McDonald's launched the BTS Set Menu in collaboration with BTS the previous day, customers flocked to McDonald's stores all at once, causing at least 10 stores to temporarily close. This was due to concerns over mass infections amid a situation where daily COVID-19 cases reached the 7,000 range.

An official from Semarang City, Central Java, said, "Out of six McDonald's stores, four were ordered to temporarily close for several days." Several stores in the Jakarta metropolitan area also shut their doors.

Foreign media reported that customers buying the BTS set and Gojek and Grab delivery drivers taking orders swarmed McDonald's stores like a tidal wave. Additionally, on Indonesian e-commerce platforms such as Tokopedia, posts quickly appeared selling used BTS set hamburgers and drink packaging. The prices for these secondhand items ranged from a few thousand won to tens of thousands of won. BTS fans in Indonesia shared certification photos on social media, showing that they carefully washed and dried the packaging because they felt it was too precious to throw away after eating the set menu.

Meanwhile, McDonald's first introduced the BTS menu last month in 11 countries including the United States, and is gradually expanding sales to 49 countries across six continents. The BTS menu consists of 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, French fries, a drink, and sweet chili and Cajun sauces. The box containing the McNuggets and the drink cup are designed in purple, symbolizing BTS. The BTS menu is sold as a limited edition from May 26 to June 20.