Continuing the South αмєяι¢αn leg of the BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’, BTS are scheduled to perform on October 21, 23, and 24 at Estadio Único Diego Armando Maradona in La Plata, Argentina. BTS will become the first K-pop act to perform at this venue, with all 53,000 tickets for each night sold out, further demonstrating their immense popularity across Latin αмєяι¢α.
In July this year, the city of La Plata awarded BTS the title of “Distinguished Guest,” one of the highest forms of recognition given to special guests or individuals who have made outstanding contributions to international culture and the arts. Local authorities praised the group’s global cultural influence while recognizing their efforts to promote youth rights and international cultural exchange.
However, the latest developments in the area, just days before the three concerts, have left fans worried. On October 21, posts from Argentine fans and local media warned that the shows were facing potential threats due to a labor dispute involving the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CCT).
The dispute centers on three private security companies—GPS Prevención SRL, MGF Seguridad SRL, and SAKERHET CORP SA, also referred to as Tech—which were hired by local event organizer DF Entertainment SA to provide personnel for the concerts. DF Entertainment SA reportedly entrusted all the work and budget for stadium staffing to these three security companies.
However, rather than paying the higher wages legally required for concert shifts, the companies allegedly sought to circumvent regulations by clαѕѕifying workers under lower-cost contracts for ordinary office security, allowing them to retain greater profits. The local event workers’ union, SUTCAPRA, reportedly discovered these practices and intervened to protect employees’ rights.
Specifically, SUTCAPRA accused the companies of seeking to apply the collective bargaining agreement for the general private security sector instead of the regulations specifically covering Admission and Permanence Control (CAP) personnel under Collective Bargaining Agreement CCT 717/15 and National Law 26.370. According to the union, this approach could result in lower wages for workers while undermining their employment rights, labor registration, and legally mandated working conditions.
SUTCAPRA stressed that companies licensed under the CAP legal framework must comply with the relevant industry-specific agreement, declaring that it would not allow workers’ rights to be violated. Since a large stadium such as Estadio Único de La Plata cannot legally open its doors to spectators without qualified security personnel, the union is threatening to strike on the exact dates of the concerts to pressure the three private companies into paying workers the legally required wages.
The situation is particularly urgent because the ARIRANG tour shows are expected to attract large crowds of ARMY and require extensive personnel to manage entrances, barriers, and security, with the concerts fast approaching. In response, the Buenos Aires provincial Ministry of Labor convened an emergency virtual hearing on the morning of October 21, involving SUTCAPRA and the three companies, to discuss staffing levels, wages, labor registration, insurance, and other related matters.
As of now, the parties involved have yet to issue detailed public statements. The dispute remains under negotiation, meaning the actual impact on the concerts will depend on the outcome of the hearing and the positions taken by the parties involved.
It is important to note that the current threat stems from a local labor dispute. BTS, HYBE, and BIGHIT MUSIC have absolutely no involvement in the alleged contractual misconduct. They did not cause the situation and have reportedly already fulfilled their event-related payments. The artists and their management are also in a pαѕѕive position, waiting for the local security companies to stop improperly cutting labor costs and pay workers fairly so the stadium can open safely and legally.
The situation has left local fans understandably worried, with many expressing their concerns: "Things just went completely south", "The concert gonna be in danger is THEM if they keep messin' around", "They better check what's really in danger, and no, it ain't their money", "What a tragic situation. This should have been coordinated way earlier", "Please, we just want the concerts to happen as planned", "This is so stressful. ARMY in Argentina must be тєяяιfιє∂ right now", "How did things get this complicated just days before the concerts?", "BTS and ARMY shouldn't have to deal with this. I'm genuinely worried",...
