MEXICO CITY — Global K-pop superstars BTS received a high-level welcome from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday, meeting at the National Palace before stepping onto the balcony to greet an estimated 50,000 ecstatic fans gathered in the historic Zócalo square ahead of three sold-out concerts as part of the group's "ARIRANG" world tour.

The seven-member group — RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook — spent about 40 minutes in a private conversation with Sheinbaum at her official residence before the public balcony appearance that quickly turned into a massive fan celebration. President Sheinbaum, who had announced the visit during her morning press briefing, described BTS as messengers of "friendship, peace, love and very humanistic messages."

The event underscored the extraordinary cultural influence of the South Korean act in Mexico, where BTS enjoys one of its strongest international fan bases. Fans, known as ARMY, began gathering hours before the scheduled appearance, flooding the Zócalo and surrounding streets. Local authorities reported a peaceful gathering with no major incidents despite the rapid swell in crowd size.

RM and V addressed the crowd in Spanish, expressing gratitude and excitement for the upcoming shows. Videos of the members waving alongside Sheinbaum spread rapidly across social media, with fans praising the moment as a historic bridge between Korean and Mexican cultures.

Concerts and Tour Context

BTS is scheduled to perform at Estadio GNP Seguros on Thursday,........

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