BTS fans in South America are drawing attention for their extraordinary efforts to attend the group's "BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG", with some saving money for six years and traveling nearly 30 hours by bus to see the members perform.

The group's South American tour concluded on October 31 in São Paulo, Brazil, after attracting approximately 853,000 fans across 14 sold-out concerts in five countries, according to BIGHIT MUSIC.

While the attendance figures highlighted BTS's popularity in the region, international media outlets also focused on the personal stories of fans who made difficult and expensive journeys to attend the concerts.

American outlet Latin Times described the South American tour as *“one of the continent's most remarkable cultural pilgrimages.”*

The publication highlighted the story of María Cruz Mamani, a fan featured by Spanish newspaper El País, who reportedly spent six years saving money to attend a BTS concert.

Mamani traveled nearly 30 hours, transferring between several buses before finally arriving in Santiago, Chile, for the performance.

For many fans in the Andean region, attending a BTS concert required considerable financial planning. Latin Times noted that even the cheapest tickets for the Chilean concerts could cost the equivalent of several weeks' wages for some workers.

Fans from countries without scheduled concerts also crossed international borders to see BTS.

According to data from Peru's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Ecuador accounted for 27.9% of international visitors attending the Lima concerts, followed by Mexico at 12.2% and Bolivia at 10.6%.

Neither Ecuador nor Bolivia was included in the tour's South American concert schedule.

Latin Times reported that the long journeys did not discourage Bolivian fans, with some traveling alongside their parents and treating the experience as a special family memory.

The Lima concerts also attracted an unexpectedly large audience.

Over three days, approximately 151,500 people attended the performances, more than three times the Peruvian government's initial estimate of 50,000.

The Lima Chamber of Commerce estimated that the concerts could generate an economic impact of up to 200 million Peruvian soles.

Meanwhile, fans in Chile demonstrated their dedication even before the concerts began.

In July, the country's National Sports Institute initially refused permission to use Santiago's National Stadium despite nearly 200,000 tickets reportedly having been sold.

Fans responded by organizing a march toward the presidential palace while carrying purple banners. The stadium permit was eventually restored about three weeks later.

During the Chilean concert, RM praised the audience as *“the best”* after fans sang along to *Arirang*.

The atmosphere also received attention in Argentina.

British music publication Clash compared the excitement surrounding BTS's concert to the atmosphere before a football match.

The outlet reported that the audience was so loud that production staff had to increase the microphone and speaker volume.

One particularly memorable moment came when approximately 53,000 fans sang the traditional Korean song *Arirang* together in Korean.

Clash described the performance as a powerful example of how music can bring different cultures closer together.

The group's popularity in Latin America is also reflected in streaming figures.

According to music data company Luminate, Latin America accounted for 27% of BTS's worldwide streams during the first eight weeks following the release of their album *ARIRANG*, the largest share among global regions.

The BTS members also expressed appreciation for their South American fans.

During the final São Paulo concert, J-Hope explained why the tour had been especially meaningful to the group.

*“Because we don't get to meet often, South America was one of the stops we looked forward to the most,”* he shared.

Following the performances, Jimin also addressed fans through a Weverse livestream and expressed his desire to return.

*“I'll carry these memories with me, prepare well, and come back again next time,”* he said.

From years of saving money to crossing borders and spending long hours traveling, the stories surrounding BTS's South American concerts have highlighted the dedication of fans who went to great lengths to see the group.

For many ARMYs, the *ARIRANG* tour became more than a concert experience, bringing together fans from different countries through their shared love of BTS.