The scramble for tickets to K-pop band BTS' comeback tour, which comes after a four-year hiatus, has prompted Mexico's president to appeal to her South Korean counterpart for additional shows in her country.
I wrote a letter to the [president] of Korea... I still haven't received the answer, but let's hope it's positive, Mexico's president Claudia Sheinbaum remarked on Monday.
BTS is scheduled to perform three shows in Mexico City in May as part of their extensive world tour. Reports indicate that tickets sold out in less than 40 minutes, leading to widespread frustration among fans.
Additionally, some fans have accused Ticketmaster and resale platforms of exploiting dynamic pricing, which has led to an investigation into the ticketing practices.
While tickets via Ticketmaster ranged from 1,800 pesos to 17,800 pesos ($100 to $1,030; £76 to £750), resale platforms listed them for prices as high as 92,100 pesos.
President Sheinbaum noted that around a million young people were vying for just 150,000 tickets, highlighting BTS' massive following in Mexico.
Spotify ranks Mexico as K-pop's fifth-largest market globally, with streams of the genre soaring over 500% in the past five years.
After consulting with local promoter Ocesa, Sheinbaum expressed concern that the band's packed itinerary could hinder the addition of more concerts. Meanwhile, Seoul's presidential office has declined to comment on the request.
BTS has not released new music as a group since June 2022, as members took breaks for individual projects and mandatory military service.
Their anticipated comeback tour, projected to be one of the year's biggest, kicks off with three nights at South Korea's Goyang Stadium starting April 9, before expanding to Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
Industry reports estimate that BTS and their record label Hybe could generate over $1 billion from this tour, encompassing concerts, merchandise, licensing, and streaming revenues.
