Global Sensation After 37-Minute Sellout... Mexican President Requests Additional BTS Concerts

"One Million Wanted Tickets": Diplomatic Letter Sent
Mexican Concert Fever Spreads Across North and Latin America
Hotel Prices Surge at Least Fivefold, "BTS Zone" Phenomenon Emerges
Market Reacts as Concerts Become Global Events Beyond Performances

Global interest continues to surround BTS's world tour. With Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico, publicly revealing that she sent a diplomatic letter to the South Korean President requesting additional BTS concerts in Mexico, discussions around the concert industry and fandom are also intensifying.

BTS is scheduled to hold a total of three performances at Estadio GNP Seguros Stadium in Mexico City on May 7 and 9-10. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

On January 27, Yonhap News reported that President Claudia Sheinbaum sent a letter to President Lee Jaemyung, requesting the allocation of additional concert dates for BTS in Mexico as part of their world tour.

During a regular press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum stated, "About 150,000 BTS concert tickets were sold in Mexico, but in reality, more than one million people wanted to attend," adding, "I sent a respectful letter to the President of Korea to find ways for more young people to experience this group."

Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

BTS is scheduled to hold a total of three performances at Estadio GNP Seguros Stadium in Mexico City on May 7 and 9-10. This venue, which accommodates approximately 50,000 to 60,000 people, has previously hosted global artists such as Blackpink, Twice, Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, and Metallica. The excitement in Mexico is already being reflected in record-breaking numbers. During ticket sales that began at 9 a.m. on January 24, all seats for the three concerts sold out within 37 minutes. Ticketmaster, the ticketing agency, described it as "one of the most intense buying competitions in recent Mexican concert history." It was reported that about 1.1 million people joined the virtual waiting queue during the ticketing process.

However, after the sellout, controversy arose over ticket scalping. Some members of the official BTS fan club, ARMY, raised concerns about possible organized scalper involvement, claiming that tickets were being resold at five to six times the original price. In response, Ivan Escalante, head of Mexico's Federal Consumer Protection Agency (Profeco), announced plans to investigate Ticketmaster for a lack of transparency in information provision. He also stated that resale platforms such as StubHub and Viagogo could be subject to regulatory action.

Reuters Yonhap News

Concerns have also been raised within the fandom itself. Mexican fans, through global fan platforms, stated, "This is not just disappointment, but injustice," demanding the establishment of a fair ticket sales system and urging HYBE and Big Hit Music to take action. Some fans have also called for a global solidarity movement to refrain from purchasing scalped tickets.

Meanwhile, BTS's world tour "Arirang" will begin in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, and span 81 shows across 34 cities, including Tokyo Dome in Japan, North America, Europe, Central and South America, and Asia. This is the largest number of shows ever for a K-pop tour.

The impact of the North American tour is also significant. Ahead of the concert in Tampa, Florida at the end of April, hotel prices in the so-called "BTS zone" near the venue have surged by more than fivefold. For example, a three-star hotel near Tampa International Airport, which usually charges $60-80 per night, raised its rates to $375 per night during the concert period, with some dates already sold out. The proximity to the venue, allowing for walking access, is cited as the main reason for the price spike.

Fans across the United States are also actively mobilizing. On Reddit, posts suggesting local fan meetups and accommodation sharing have garnered over 1,400 comments in just three days. The concerts are evolving beyond simple performances to become global events that impact local economies, tourism, and even diplomatic relations.