BTS arrived in Peru on October 5 for their three scheduled concerts, for Peruvian ARMY, this was a long-awaited opportunity to see BTS perform in their country. The fans in excitement started to gathered outside the group’s hotel hoping to catch the glimpse of the members. However, the crowds soon became a problem for the staffs and performers.
On October 7, ahead of the band first conert, RM call out on the situation through a Weverse post, explaining that people outside the hotel are making noise which is affecting the rest time of members and staff.
RM via Weverse
The situation reportedly worsened on Thursday, October 8, when a drone show along Lima’s coast attracted hundreds of fans. After the event, large groups moved towards the JW Marriott hotel, causing traffic disruption, blocked roads and excessive noise. Some fans directed laser lights towards hotel windows, while others surrounded a black vehicle believed to be carrying BTS members. BTS Perú Fanclub clarified that the drone show had taken place away from the hotel and that it had never encouraged fans to gather outside the building.
Despite the concerns outside the hotel, BTS’s first concert on October 7 delivered the celebration fans had been waiting for. One of the evening’s most memorable features was the members’ effort to communicate with their audience in Spanish, including expressions specific to Peru. V greeted the crowd, jimin told fans it had taken the group far too long to visit Lima, while RM revealed he had tried ceviche, Peru’s famous dish of fish cured in citrus juice, and loved it. The members also repeatedly asked, “Lima, are you ready?” Jungkook appeared especially impressed by how loudly the audience sang “Arirang.” He later said “we have to come back.”
By the second concert on October 9, the conversation surrounding BTS’s privacy had reached the stadium itself. With approximately 50,000 people attending, sections of the crowd began chanting messages asking fellow fans to respect the members’ boundaries. Among the chants were “don’t go to the hotel” and “sorry, BTS.”
RM thanked Peruvians, calling them the best, then addressed his previous day’s post in Korean. He clarified it wasn’t aimed at Peru or America alone, since similar incidents have long occurred in Europe and the United States and could happen in Asia. He acknowledged fans who keep their distance in public, but said using drones or pointing lasers at members is unacceptable. Stressing that BTS and ARMY are one people regardless of nationality, he urged fans to ignore divisive voices and affirmed his belief in Peru’s wonderful ARMYs.
