The 7 Moments That Made BTS' Latin American Tour Unforgettable

BTS wrapped up the Latin American leg of its "ARIRANG" world tour in São Paulo on Oct. 31, bringing an end to a month of concerts that had been years in the making for many fans.

The group performed 14 shows across five countries, beginning in Bogotá, Colombia, on Oct. 2. It marked BTS' first full-group concerts in Colombia, Peru and Argentina, while Chile welcomed the members back after nearly a decade and Brazil after seven years.

There was plenty happening beyond the stage. Fans marched through city streets to protect concert plans, organized a drone show, and found ways to welcome BTS that reflected their own countries and cultures. Here are seven moments that stood out from the Latin American tour.

1. Chilean ARMY Fought for BTS' Return

BTS' return to Chile almost ran into trouble before the concerts even began.

The Chilean government's initial refusal to authorize the use of Estadio Nacional's playing field put the Santiago shows in doubt. Hundreds of fans dressed in purple marched toward La Moneda, the presidential palace, calling for the concerts to go ahead.

The shows were eventually approved after organizers submitted measures to protect the stadium's grass. For Chilean ARMY, it meant the end of a nearly 10-year wait.

When BTS finally performed in Santiago, the crowd made its excitement clear. RM later singled out the Chilean audience's singing during the "Arirang" portion of "Body to Body" as one of the most memorable reactions of the tour.

2. Peruvian ARMY Lit Up the Sky With 150 Drones

Before BTS arrived onstage in Lima, fans had already prepared a welcome of their own.

On Oct. 8, approximately 150 drones took flight above Costa Verde, forming the BTS logo, an ARMY Bomb, the flags of Peru and South Korea, and messages including "BTS PAVED THE WAY" and "ROAD TO 7."

The display was organized by fans rather than the concert promoter. It was an elaborate way to celebrate BTS' first full-group visit to Peru, giving local ARMY a moment of their own before the concerts began.

3. Cities Welcomed BTS Beyond the Concert Venues

In Peru, BTS' arrival was marked on the streets as well as inside the stadium.

The Santiago de Surco district in Lima temporarily renamed Calle Sacramento "Avenida BTS" for a week in October. The Arco Morisco was illuminated in purple, and a BTS-themed fountain show was held at the city's Magic Water Circuit.

Argentina also gave the group an official welcome. The Buenos Aires City Council designated BTS as "Huéspedes de Honor," or Guests of Honor, ahead of the group's first full-group concerts in the country.

The celebrations showed how far the excitement had spread beyond ticket holders, with local authorities joining fans in marking the group's visit.

4. BTS Got Into the Local Spirit

BTS made sure to embrace a little of each country's culture along the way.

In Peru, the members appeared in traditional Andean ponchos and chullo hats, with V even handing his hat to a fan. In Chile, they wore huaso-inspired outfits, including traditional mantas and wide-brimmed hats. Jin chose a purple manta, a fitting choice for a BTS concert.

Football was a major theme in Argentina. Five members appeared in Lionel Messi's No. 10 national team jerseys, while the others wore Argentina-inspired colors. The group also copied Messi's familiar goal celebration, pointing their fingers toward the sky.

In Brazil, the members continued the football theme by wearing the country's yellow national team jerseys and greeting the crowd in Portuguese.

5. ARMY Had Their Own Plans for the Shows

Fans across Latin America came to the concerts with more than ARMY Bombs.

In Chile, where BTS performed shortly after Jimin's Oct. 13 birthday, fans prepared yellow heart displays, banners and a group rendition of "Happy Birthday."

Brazilian fans also organized a coordinated light project, turning sections of the audience green, yellow and blue to represent the country's flag. Others brought signs marking how long they had waited to see BTS again.

These were small moments compared with the scale of the stadium productions, but they gave each concert a distinctly local touch. The fans were not simply watching the show. They had spent weeks preparing their own contributions to it.

6. Latin American ARMY Made "Arirang" Their Own

One of the most memorable parts of BTS' Latin American tour was how loudly fans sang along to "Arirang," the traditional Korean folk melody featured in "Body to Body."

From Bogotá to São Paulo, stadiums filled with fans singing the Korean melody, often loud enough to compete with the members themselves. The moment was particularly meaningful given that "ARIRANG" is also the title of BTS' comeback album and world tour.

Brazil provided a fitting finale to that month of singalongs. During the São Paulo concerts, thousands of fans joined in, bringing the melody to life once again as the group completed its Latin American run after years away from the region.

Jin later singled out the Brazilian crowd for its singing, describing it as among the loudest BTS had experienced on the tour.

7. São Paulo Gave BTS a Send-Off Seven Years in the Making

BTS closed the Latin American leg with three concerts at Estádio do MorumBIS on Oct. 28, 30 and 31, marking the group's first return to Brazil in seven years.

After the final show, the members reflected on the reception they had received. RM recalled seeing fans holding signs saying they had waited 10 years, while J-Hope spoke about how moving those messages were.

Jin also thanked fans for waiting and expressed his hope that the group would return to Latin America.

According to BigHit Music, the 14 sold-out shows drew a combined audience of 853,000. The members later described the Latin American leg as one of the happiest experiences of the tour and thanked fans for making it possible.

BTS will now head to Asia, with the next concerts scheduled for Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on Nov. 19, 21 and 22.

For Latin American ARMY, however, the past month brought an end to a much longer wait. From the streets of Santiago to the skies above Lima and the packed stadiums of São Paulo, fans found plenty of ways to make BTS' return their own.