[Photos] Tears and cheers at BTS’s final Argentina concert, surpassing Messi’s farewell match

Fervor from more than 80 countries surpasses Messi’s farewell match

Fans burst into tears as soon as they took their seats, waiting for the concert to begin. A teenage girl wearing a hanbok she had made herself could not hold back her emotion even during an interview as she waited for the show to start. Even after the concert ended, fans embraced one another and could not bring themselves to leave for some time.

BTS’s final concert in Argentina began with passionate cheers and tears—and ended in tears, too.

The third BTS concert, held on the 24th (local time), was also broadcast live to audiences in more than 80 countries. The venue was already buzzing with excitement well before the show began.

Starting three hours before the concert, tens of thousands of ARMY kept up a stadium wave, chanting “Olé, olé, olé, Bangtan, Bangtan,” modeled on familiar cheers at Argentine soccer matches.

K-pop has become a cultural revolution, and the Korean Wave’s standing has changed

A foreign journalist covering the event could not hide his amazement at the roar of fans filling the stadium. “I really had no idea the Korean Wave had reached this level,” he said. “The cheers from BTS fans are far more passionate and louder than they were at soccer god Lionel Messi’s farewell match for the national team.”

He added, “Seeing a Korean group draw such an enthusiastic response in Argentina, where people take great pride in soccer, tango and Latin rock, clearly shows how BTS has changed the standing of the Korean Wave.”

Carla, 40, who came from Peru, said, “I saw four shows in Las Vegas and two in Peru, and this time I came to see the concert in Argentina.”

Ale, 17, wearing a hanbok she made herself, shared her overwhelming feelings: “I’ve loved BTS since I was little, and I was so happy that I could finally see them perform in person that I cried.”

BTS’s appeal captivates journalists, as interest in Korean culture explodes

Among the journalists covering the concert for major Argentine outlets, quite a few were devoted fans. Ornella Saita, a reporter for the prominent local daily Clarín, said she had a small BTS-related tattoo on her arm and was learning Korean. Reporters with La Nación and Infobae, too, turned out to be passionate ARMY who had grown up listening to the group’s music since their teenage years.

BTS’s popularity has extended beyond music, sparking a surge of interest in learning Korean and in Korean culture. Fans wearing hanbok they had made themselves showed up at the venue, and tens of thousands of concertgoers sang along with the members, having memorized the Korean lyrics. Watching the scene, a foreign correspondent marveled, “BTS is a cultural revolution.”

Deep respect for local culture makes for a show of perfect connection

The members showed respect for local culture, bringing themselves even closer to fans. At the first concert, they took the stage wearing Argentina national team jerseys. At the second, member V sang “Muchachos,” the anthem cheering on Argentina’s national team at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, drawing an explosive response.

At the final concert, the members also appeared wearing Argentina national team jerseys and jackets from different eras, including ones worn by Lionel Messi. It was meticulous preparation that reflected the affection of local fans. Rather than simply introducing Korean culture, their effort to deeply understand another culture and its sensibilities further heightened the excitement of the show.

The positive impact of music brings warmth to local communities

The fans who came to the concert also made an impact beyond the stage. Seeking to give back to society for the comfort they had received from BTS, local fans made a major donation to Hospital Garrahan, an Argentine children’s hospital, drawing considerable attention from the local community.

As the songs rang out at the final show, ARMY sang Korea’s folk song “Arirang” in especially loud voices. The moving scene made it seem as though the song’s lyrics were pleading with the seven members not to leave Argentina.

BTS expressed deep gratitude for the passion of their Argentine fans and made a firm promise to return. After the members’ final farewell—at the end of a long wait—fans embraced one another and wept. Even after the concert ended, the purple wave was slow to disperse.

Five-city South American trek heads toward a grand finale in Brazil

BTS will bring its ARIRANG Tour to a successful close in Brazil, with shows on the 28th, 30th and 31st, completing a sold-out run of 14 concerts across five South American cities.