"Did They Sell Tickets Before Getting Approval?" Hundreds Take to the Streets Over BTS Concert Venue Row in Chile

[Financial News]  A dispute is growing over approval for the venue of BTS's concert in Chile, scheduled for October. The Chilean government has moved to calm the situation, saying, "The concert has not been canceled," but hundreds of fans have taken to the streets in protest, intensifying the backlash.

According to Yonhap News Agency, News18 and other foreign media outlets on the 5th local time, hundreds of members of BTS's fan club ARMY held a rally in Santiago, Chile's capital, to protest the ban on using the National Stadium.
Dressed in purple, the participants marched peacefully toward the area near La Moneda Palace, the presidential residence, carrying banners that read, "BTS to the National Stadium" and "Music and art do not damage stadiums."
In an interview with Spain's EFE news agency, 22-year-old fan Daniela Trujillo said, "We are very angry," adding, "They should not take away our chance to meet the artist we love." Hissel Muñoz, a fan club official, also argued that "there is no realistic alternative venue that can accommodate an audience of this size other than the National Stadium."

As the controversy spread, Chilean Sports Minister Natalia Duco said, "The concert has not been canceled, and approval has not been withdrawn," explaining that "the National Stadium was never officially approved for use in the first place."
BTS is scheduled to perform in Santiago on October 14, 16 and 17, and tickets went on sale months ago and have all sold out.
However, the government said that even at the time tickets were sold, final approval had not been granted for the stadium-use contract or the stage installation plan.
Duco said, "At the time, the Sports Ministry was still inspecting the venue, and the stage installation plan had not yet been approved."
The Chilean government and the National Institute of Sports, or IND, cite BTS's massive 360-degree stage design as the reason they have held up approval for the concert.
They are concerned that the stage setup could damage the stadium's grass and disrupt future football matches and major sporting events.
The government also believes the stage structure could place hundreds of tons of weight on the turf, and says the recovery time for the grass could significantly affect stadium operations.
Fans, meanwhile, are criticizing the fact that tickets were sold before venue approval was secured, as well as the government's delayed announcement.
On social media and at the protest site, voices continued to accuse both the organizers and the government of poor communication, saying, "Why were tickets sold before venue approval was complete?" and "Fans were told too late."

The Chilean government said it is not canceling the concert itself and is discussing solutions with the organizers.
Options under review include partially revising the 360-degree stage design, using another space within the National Stadium, or moving the event to a nearby alternative venue.
The controversy has also spread into Chilean politics. Some opposition figures are demanding accountability, saying the government failed to properly coordinate a large-scale cultural event, while the government maintains that its decision was a "technical judgment based on administrative procedures and safety standards."

y27k@fnnews.com Seo Yoon-kyung Reporter