BTS Conquers the Other Side of the World, Taking Over Peru

BTS has colored South American Peru with purple cheers. More than 150,000 spectators flocked to just three performances, and intense heat continued inside and outside the venue. In particular, Jimin, whose birthday is approaching, touched the hearts of local ARMY by promising not to forget the love fans send toward them from the other side of the world. It was a moment that once again confirmed the influence of BTS, transcending borders and language barriers through music.

BTS held "BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ IN LIMA" at Estadio San Marcos in Lima, Peru, on the 7th and the 9th to 10th. Although originally planned for two performances, an additional session was added as demand exceeded expectations. A total of approximately 151,500 people gathered for the performances held over three days, with all three shows recording a complete sell-out. The fact that interest was so intense that the number of performances had to be added made the cohesion of the South American fandom for BTS palpable.

The members responded to local fans by greeting them in Spanish, saying, "Los amo (I love you)." Amazed by the heat of the audience filling the seats, the members shared their overwhelmed feelings, saying, "Your passion is truly amazing. I wonder why we only came to Peru now." For fans who had waited a long time for the performance, this moment likely held more meaning than a simple greeting. The scene where the artists' voices on stage and the cheers from the audience were exchanged with each other showed that BTS's South American tour was more than just a musical event, but a reunion with fans.

The remarks made by Jimin, whose birthday is on the 13th, also drew attention. He said, "I will live my life without forgetting the fact that you all are loving me greatly from the other side of the world." This means he intends to cherish the fact that affection and support continue to flow toward him even though they are geographically far apart. For a global star active all over the world, a fandom is also an entity that can be converted into numbers, but the support of each individual audience member met directly on stage holds a meaning beyond that. Jimin's words revealed the emotional bond with fans behind the record of mobilizing a large-scale audience.

BTS's visit did not stay only inside the venue. The Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR) analyzed that the influx of more than 50,000 visitors generated a tourism economic effect of approximately 18.7 million dollars, or about 25.1 billion won. The Lima Chamber of Commerce estimated that economic activities of up to 200 million soles, or about 78 billion won, took place, including accommodation, food and beverage, transportation, official merchandise, and related consumption. Although there are differences depending on the collecting agency and the scope of calculation, it is clear that the large-scale performance acted as an economic driver that simultaneously moved tourism and consumption.

Local transportation demand also surged. According to reports from the Peruvian daily El Comercio, citing data from the ride-hailing service Cabify, the number of ride-hailing requests heading to the stadium on the 7th, when the first performance was held, increased by up to 15 times compared to usual. After the performance ended, the number of requests soared to up to 48 times the usual level. Transportation demand was concentrated not only during the time audiences moved to the venue but also after the conclusion. As the consumption of visitors who came to the city to see the performance spread to various fields such as transportation services as well as accommodation and restaurants, the ripple effect of the large concert was revealed in concrete figures.

This phenomenon is also an example showing the status that large fandoms hold in the global music industry. A popular artist's performance does not stop at ticket sales but leads to consumption of flights, accommodation, transportation, dining, and souvenirs. In particular, when visits from overseas fans are concentrated, the entire host city can transform into a temporary tourism hub. However, when evaluating the economic effect, it is necessary to look at not only the total scale of consumption but also the additional costs incurred for the performance and the actual benefits returning to the local community. Nevertheless, the audience scale and transportation demand confirmed at the Lima performance show that BTS's tour caused a significant economic ripple effect in the region.

Continuing the heat of the Peru performance, BTS will take the stage in Santiago, Chile, on the 14th and the 16th to 17th. Afterward, they plan to continue their South American tour by visiting La Plata in Argentina and São Paulo in Brazil. Attention is focused on what records and scenes BTS, who met more than 150,000 spectators in Lima, will create in the next city. The 'love from the other side of the world' promised by Jimin is now continuing beyond Peru to all parts of South America.

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