Viral: BTS meets Mexican President, waves to 50,000 fans from palace balcony

South Korean group BTS drew massive crowds in Mexico City after greeting fans from the balcony of the National Palace alongside Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Ahead of their sold-out concerts in the city, the seven-member group — RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook — met President Sheinbaum at the presidential palace before stepping out to wave at thousands of fans gathered at the Zócalo square. Videos and photos from the appearance quickly spread across social media, with fans waving lightsticks and holding banners welcoming the group. Reports said BTS pulled a crowd of nearly 50,000 people at the square within five hours of the announcement.

The appearance quickly became a widely discussed moment online, with several attendees describing the atmosphere as “historic.” Some fans reportedly camped overnight to catch a glimpse of the group.

According to reports, BTS spent around 40 minutes with the Mexican President during the official visit. Sheinbaum reportedly praised the group for promoting messages of “peace, friendship and hope” through their music and global influence. BTS members also thanked Mexican fans in Spanish and spoke about returning to perform together after years focused on solo activities and mandatory military service.

The visit comes during the group’s Arirang world tour, which marks BTS’ reunion following the completion of mandatory military service by all seven members. The tour has generated strong demand across multiple countries.

BTS is scheduled to perform three sold-out shows at Estadio GNP Seguros on May 7, 9 and 10. Local reports suggest the concerts are expected to bring a major economic boost to the city through tourism, hospitality and merchandise sales.

Mexico has long been one of the strongest international markets for K-pop, with BTS consistently ranking among the country’s most-streamed artists. The group’s relationship with Latin American fans has only strengthened over the years, with ARMY often organising large-scale fan projects, charity drives and public celebrations around BTS events.