As part of the South αмєяι¢αn leg of their ARIRANG World Tour, BTS officially kicked off the first of three concerts at Estadio Único Diego Armando Maradona in La Plata, Argentina, on October 21 (local time), with approximately 60,000 fans in attendance. This also marked the group’s first concert in Argentina in 13 years since their debut, making the event a special milestone for both BTS and local ARMY.
Fans’ preparations for the first concert went far beyond simply waiting to see their idols take the stage.
From fans crossing borders into Argentina out of fear that the Chile concert might be canceled, to those tirelessly preparing local advertising projects, fans meticulously hand-stitching a hanbok over five weeks, and those taking the initiative to protect the members’ privacy, everyone contributed in their own way. For them, BTS’s concert in Argentina was not just a long-awaited performance, but also an opportunity to once again reaffirm the profound meaning music holds in their lives.
With that in mind, the crowd’s excitement grew even more intense as the first notes rang out. However, during the opening performance, the au∂ιєnce’s enthusiasm led to an υиєχρє¢тє∂ situation that prompted BTS to briefly pause the show out of concern for fans’ safety.
Specifically, during the opening set, Jimin and several other members noticed fans in the standing floor area dancing and swaying vigorously to the beat while standing very close together, making it look as though the crowd was pushing against one another. Concerned that these movements could pose a danger, particularly to those at the front, the members signaled for the show to pause briefly so they could remind the au∂ιєnce to be careful.
Jimin personally addressed the crowd, speaking in a tone that clearly conveyed his concern. He said, “Uh, guys, I love it (here) and I missed you guys a lot too, but if you push each other like that, it could be dangerous for those on the first floor. Whoa, whoa, it's a bit dangerous if you do that, so please don't push each other, then we'd all be able to just enjoy the concert well. You can do that, right? Thank you. I'd be really grateful if you could enjoy this concert safely.”
SUGA also spoke up shortly afterward, gently reminding fans, “You cannot push, okay?”
A little later, RM continued reminding the crowd: "You guys are so ѕєχy, but you're still pushing each other. Please don't push! It'd become dangerous before you know it. The people in Buenos Aires are so kind and smart, so they won't push right?"
When the videos were shared on social media, some Argentine fans stepped in to explain that dancing to the beat, including pogo dancing, is a longstanding part of the country’s concert culture, influenced by rock performances. The crowd’s vigorous movements do not necessarily stem from an intention to deliberately push others or put anyone in danger; they may simply be expressing themselves and immersing themselves in the music. Differences in concert culture may have led the members to perceive the situation as more concerning than it actually was.
Even so, ARMY in Argentina and across Latin αмєяι¢α felt touched by BTS’s response. The fact that the members were willing to pause their performance to remind the au∂ιєnce to be careful showed just how much they cared about the fans in front of the stage, rather than focusing solely on their own performance.
Meanwhile, other fans pointed out that although pogo dancing is part of concert culture in Argentina and Latin αмєяι¢α, it can still carry certain risks, especially when BTS concerts are so densely packed. They therefore hoped that local ARMY would remain mindful of their own safety and that of those around them while expressing their enthusiasm.
Some notable reactions from ARMY following the incident included: "Not YoonMin gentle parenting the crowd. I hope everyone can enjoy the concert safely", "Girls, please be careful, we don't want any α¢¢ι∂єитs!", "They’re gonna have a heart attack when the real pogo starts hahaha", "Jimin with his never ending concern, ARMYs, let's enjoy the concert well", "BTS might get ѕтαятℓє∂ as it’s the first time they’ve seen pogo. Hopefully, BTS finds out about it so they don’t get scared", "They care about us so much", "Jimin sounded genuinely worried. He just wanted everyone to enjoy the concert safely", "BTS will always put ARMY's safety first",...
