BTS V's "I want to see Machu Picchu" sets all of Peru in motion

BTS member V is making waves in Peru even before his performance begins. It is not merely a matter of a foreign star visiting ahead of a local concert. As V expresses direct interest in Peruvian food, language, and culture, and specifically states that he definitely wants to see the world-renowned tourist destination Machu Picchu, local media, broadcasters, and even government agencies are rushing to introduce his movements.

The influential Peruvian daily newspaper El Comercio focused on the fact that V recently revealed during his communication with fans that "the thing I want to see most is Machu Picchu." As news of V's interest in Machu Picchu, a global cultural heritage and a symbol representing Peru, spreads, the atmosphere in the country is one where his visit itself is being accepted as a cultural event.

In particular, V's interest in Machu Picchu is not something that was suddenly created recently. In 2020, when he was asked by a fan if he wanted to visit Peru and Machu Picchu, he expressed his desire to go. He also mentioned Machu Picchu as a place he wanted to visit in a past BTS reality program. The travel destination he has held in his heart for a long time has now become closer as it coincides with his actual world tour schedule.

This time, he did not stop at simply mentioning tourist attractions. While communicating with local fans, V even showed himself learning expressions actually used in Peru. He personally posted the Peruvian greeting "Qué fue, causa?" on social media. This is a local expression used among friends meaning something like "How are you?" or "What's up?". The reaction from Peruvian fans was intense at the sight of a top Korean star attempting to directly embrace the local language and culture.

Local broadcasters did not miss this either. The Peruvian terrestrial broadcaster Latina Televisión separately introduced V learning local slang from Peruvian fans. Rather than a global star unilaterally delivering his own culture, the scene of him learning and following the language used by local fans created an even greater sense of intimacy locally.

His interest in food was also extraordinary. After arriving in Peru, V tasted the representative dish ceviche and left a post to the effect of "the sweet potato was really delicious." The released photos and videos included seafood dishes, Peruvian desserts, and ceviche. As a celebrity's meal connects to an interest in local culture, what V ate and how he reacted has become a subject of interest for local media.

The Peruvian state news agency Andina introduced the fact that V specifically mentioned the taste of the sweet potato served with the ceviche, and the major local radio station RPP also reported the news of him tasting ceviche and Peruvian desserts. A structure is being formed where every time V eats, speaks, or wonders about the local culture, local media turns it into news and spreads it.

This interest has spread beyond the realm of mass media to public institutions. Content utilizing the visit of BTS and V to Peru has appeared on the official SNS of government agencies such as the Peruvian registry RENIEC and the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation MIDAGRI. They are utilizing the visit of a global K-pop star not just as simple entertainment news, but as an opportunity to promote Peruvian culture and tourism.

This shows that the overseas performances of K-pop stars today do not remain merely as events within the music industry. The moment a Hallyu star mentions the food, language, or tourist attractions of a specific country, it itself triggers interest in the local culture and can serve as material for tourism promotion. Especially in the case of artists with a global fandom like BTS, a single personal preference or statement can lead to fans' desire to travel, consumption, and even regional promotion, meaning the cultural impact is significant.

In fact, the atmosphere in Lima ahead of BTS's first solo concert in Peru is already approaching a festival. The Santiago de Surco district in Lima has temporarily named a local road "BTS Avenue" to commemorate BTS's visit until the 11th. Purple lights symbolizing BTS are also being turned on at major landmarks, coloring various parts of the city with the color of the fandom ahead of the performance.

In particular, this atmosphere does not end with Peruvian fans waiting for BTS. As V first showed interest in Peruvian food, language, and tourist attractions, local society is actively accepting it in return. It is as if a kind of cultural exchange is being formed, moving beyond a one-way relationship between star and fan to exchange each other's cultures. It is also interesting in that a celebrity's visit serves as an opportunity for locals to look at their own culture and spaces again.

BTS will hold their world tour 'ARIRANG' performances at Estadio San Marcos in Lima, Peru, on the 7th and the 9th–10th. It is their first solo concert since their debut in Peru. While expectations for the performance itself have reached their peak, local fans' attention is also focused on whether V will actually visit Machu Picchu, which he has wanted to go to for a long time.

V's presence, which has already moved Peruvian media, broadcasting, radio, and government agencies even before taking the stage, is a scene that shows K-pop has now established itself as a cultural phenomenon beyond a simple music genre. As the single phrase "I really want to see Machu Picchu" spreads into interest for the whole of Peru, attention is focused on what kind of new cultural landscape BTS's first solo concert in Peru will create locally.

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