Fans of K-pop supergroup BTS march in Chile over venue uncertainty [Epu2cUzVNjD]
(6 Jul 2026) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Santiago, Chile - 5 July 2026 1. Women holding inflatable BTS letters and cutouts of the BTS members 2. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Pamela Muñoz, protester: “So they’re completely out of touch with reality. Imagine all the people who had to take to the streets to protest because of such a ridiculous decision. But in the end, we’re going to the National Stadium.” 3. People marching with purple balloons and banners 4. Banner depicting Kim Namjoon as the President of Chile 5. Women hugging after hearing the government had approved the concerts 6. Woman crying and being hugged after learning the National Stadium concerts had been approved 7. Fans chanting, “We made it to the National Stadium!” after learning the government had approved the concerts at the venue STORYLINE: Thousands of fans of South Korean group BTS marched through downtown Santiago on Sunday to demand confirmation of the venue for the band’s upcoming performances. The group is scheduled to perform at Chile’s National Stadium on October 14, 16 and 17 as part of the ARIRANG world tour. Tickets, which went on sale in April and sold out quickly, were thrown into uncertainty after the National Sports Institute rejected the use of the venue. It argued that construction of the concert’s stage could damage the stadium’s hybrid grass pitch and interfere with other scheduled events. The decision sparked frustration among thousands of fans, known collectively as the BTS ARMY, who questioned why the issue emerged months after tickets had already gone on sale. The protesters wore purple clothing, carried signs with messages of support, waved ARMY flags, released purple balloons and displayed large cutouts of the band’s seven members. Throughout the march, they also sang BTS songs, performed choreographed dances and chanted slogans, calling for a solution. The demonstration ended on an unexpected high note — before the day's end, authorities confirmed the performances would go ahead at the National Stadium. In a statement, the National Sports Institute said the new proposal submitted by the event organizer “complies with current regulations and ensures the proper use of the venue”. It ended days of uncertainty and prompted celebrations among the protesting ARMY members. AP video by Alexandre Plaza. =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected]. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: