How A Leaked Document Sparked A Huge BTS Fan Protest In Chile And Reversed A Ban On The Group’s Concert
On July 21, the IND approved the new plan, clearing the way for the three concerts to go ahead as scheduled on Oct. 14, 16 and 17.
A leaked document sparked a huge BTS fan protest in Chile, forcing the government to reverse a decision that blocked the K-pop group from playing three sold-out concerts in Santiago.
We spoke to some of the fans that spread the word, brought thousands of people together to protest on to the streets of Santiago and put enough pressure on the government to make them reconsider their decision.
BTS, one of the world's biggest music acts, is currently on its "Arirang" world tour, which started in South Korea in April and includes 79 shows across 23 countries.
In April, BTS announced three Chile shows for October, its first concerts in the country since 2017.
Fans, known as ARMY, rushed to buy tickets, and all three shows sold out quickly.
But on July 2, a leaked online report claimed Chile's National Sports Institute (IND), the government body that approves events at the National Stadium, had rejected the concerts because they could damage the stadium's grass and affect future sporting events.
The IND said BTS' stage setup, a circular structure weighing about 600 tons, built in the middle of the field, could damage the stadium's grass ahead of other sporting events planned there, including Chile's national football team matches in November.
The news left fans devastated, and they took to social media to express their frustration with their government.
33-year-old Yazmin from the BTS fan account BTS Chile told Almost the situation then escalated after Chile's sports minister Natalia Duco publicly denied the concerts had ever been authorized and said she did not even know about the concerts.
Yazmin said the lack of communication from concert promoter DG Medios also added to fans' frustration, and fans were left without a clear answer on whether the concerts would happen at all.
On July 5, about 5,000 fans marched in 11 cities across Chile, including outside La Moneda, the presidential palace in Santiago, to protest the decision to cancel the concerts.
Fans wore purple, BTS' signature color, sang the group's songs and carried signs reading "BTS to the National Stadium" and "Music and art do not harm the stadium."
Antonella Sepúlveda Garrido, the English-language spokesperson for fan account “ARMY Chilensis,” told Almost that the protest was never simply about a concert.
"I attended because fans deserved clear answers and transparent communication,” she said. "After days of uncertainty and conflicting information, many of us felt ignored. The protest was a peaceful way to ask for accountability and to show that fans should be treated with respect."
"It wasn't about politics or supporting a political movement. It was about defending consumers' rights, demanding transparency and asking public institutions to fulfil their responsibilities," she added.
Antonella said that despite the frustration, the demonstration remained peaceful.
"It was emotional and overwhelming. There was a strong sense of unity and mutual support. Although everyone was frustrated, the atmosphere remained peaceful, respectful and organized," she said.
She added that ARMY Chilensis had previously organized fundraising campaigns for people affected by Chile's wildfires and sponsored animals in local shelters, saying those same values of solidarity and collective responsibility shaped the protest.
She said social media became the backbone of the campaign.
"Fanbases shared official updates, coordinated meeting points, answered questions and encouraged people to verify information before sharing it. It also helped prevent rumors from spreading and allowed thousands of fans to stay connected in real time," she said.
31-year-old Constanza from fan account Connected BTS Chile told Almost that fans focused on gathering evidence while challenging what they believed were misleading statements from authorities.
"Our community's response has been primarily to exercise patience and try to gather evidence regarding the case," she said."The government has lied to us a great deal about this National Stadium issue."Support quickly spread beyond Chile as international ARMY translated updates and amplified the campaign.
"I believe that without the support of ARMY from other countries, this wouldn't have become known," Constanza said.
"It meant a lot," Antonella said. "Seeing fans from around the world supporting us made us feel that we weren't alone."
For Antonella, the campaign represented something much bigger than securing a venue.
"This was never just about a concert," she said. "It was about trust, transparency, consumer rights and respect."
The campaign ultimately succeeded.
Facing the backlash, the government said on July 6 it would reconsider its decision if DG Medios submitted a revised plan that better protected the stadium.
DG Medios did so, adding measures such as using cranes from the athletics track around the field, rather than heavy vehicles, to build the stage, and covering the grass to help it recover faster afterward.
On July 21, the IND approved the new plan, clearing the way for the three concerts to go ahead as scheduled on Oct. 14, 16 and 17.
The shows will make BTS the first K-pop act to headline the National Stadium.
DG Medios thanked Chile's Ministry of Sports, the IND and stadium officials for working with the company to find a solution.
Following the announcement, BTS Daily Chile thanked fans who protested, contacted authorities and members of Congress, translated updates and kept the campaign visible online.
"This achievement does not belong to one person or one fanbase," the account wrote. "It belongs to every ARMY who refused to give up."
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