BTS Army Protests Chilean Government's Decision to Cancel 'Arirang' World Tour Concerts
BTS fans in Chile gathered to protest the Chilean government's decision to cancel the group's three scheduled "Arirang" world tour concerts in October. The fans, known as Army, demonstrated in Santiago, wearing purple outfits, waving balloons, and holding signs. They were against the cancellation of the concerts that were supposed to take place in October as part of the world tour.
The concerts were set to be held at Santiago's Estadio Nacional from October 14 to 17, with an additional date added on the 14th due to high demand. The fans marched towards the La Moneda presidential palace, singing BTS songs and carrying signs that read "BTS to the National Stadium."
The Sports Minister mentioned that the cancellation does not mean the concerts are permanently off. However, there is currently no suitable alternative venue in Santiago or nearby cities like Vina del Mar and Concepcion that can accommodate the large audience size. The government cited technical reasons for the cancellation, stating that the planned stage setup would put excessive weight on the field, potentially damaging it.
The National Sports Institute, responsible for approving the use of Estadio Nacional, expressed concerns about the 360-degree stage setup's impact on the playing surface. The government also criticized the concert organizer for selling tickets before obtaining permission to use the venue.