K-Pop legendary group BTS concert, upcoming ARIRANG, created a massive buzz online. They will perform in Jakarta on December 26 and 27 as part of their tour “ARIRANG.” The fans had a chance to see their idol perform live, but this excitement has turned negative as their upcoming concert in Jakarta, Indonesia, faces criticism. Read on to know!
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The group is set to hold concerts in Jakarta on December 26 and 27 as a part of their world tour “ARIRANG.” But the tensions are rising due to online clashes between Korean and Southeast Asian Netizens, leading to debates and even cancelling the concert.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED?
It all began during the concert in Malaysia, where a Korean fan used a big professional camera, which blocked other fans’ view. Whereas local fans complained about it, some Korean users defended the person. This small issue has turned into a big argument online.
I hope joon skips Indonesia during tour locals in that country are fucking racist and violent atp they might physically harm him 🥴
— yun_7 🥢 20/03 (@polar_nighttt) February 15, 2026
But things went worse when some people turned this argument towards one of the BTS members, RM, Kim Nam Joon. People went below the belt and commented on his race, even mocked him for his looks. He had dealt with this unfair comment even before, but this time it exploded into a massive online fight among the Korean and Indonesian Netizens. “I really hope BTS cancels their concert in Indonesia because it’s getting ridiculous from jobless locals/kpop stans harassing and targeting them unprovoked, to their government wanting to use them? Free them,” one fan wrote after fans started demeaning RM.
Another wrote, “I hope Joon skips the Indonesia tour; locals in that country are racist and violent, and they might physically harm him.”
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Racist Attack on BTS RM
Indonesians have been waging a racist war against Namjoon for months, not the Korean vs SEA Twitter war, but months ago. They literally dragged him just for his looks? Then they moved on to Tae, calling him every name in the book over a brand deal, then they targeted Jungkook, another one wrote. Fans argue that BTS should cancel the concert in Indonesia, as they are concerned about the members’ safety.
However, these demands drew strong reactions from Indonesian ARMY. They are quick to explain that a few fans didn’t represent all the fans and do not speak for anyone. Many local fans said that this is not the first time BTS has dealt with similar problems in other countries, but no one demanded the cancellation of the concert.
Free Indonesia from BTS lmao.
by u/Few_Walk165 in BTSnark
An Indonesian fan has expressed his feelings on Twitter (now X) and said, “I don’t think Indonesian ARMY is at fault for that? The US media has been racist towards them for years, and I don’t see people asking them not to tour there.” Another wrote, “Don’t say something like this. This hurts the Indonesian Army, too. You don’t know how tired we are of these people. We’ve tried to report and block these people, but they keep coming back.
To show support, fans from Indonesia and around the world started a special trend on social media, hashtags like #PurpleRibbonForRM and #ArmyStandWithRM became popular. However, all this debate and controversy are limited to social media and fans. So far, there is no official statement from HYBE nor BigHit Music about changing the Jakarta Dates.
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Long-awaited BTS Concert “ARIRANG”: All You Need to Know
In June 2025, all seven members of BTS were released from their military service. The ARIRANG is the upcoming concert of the legendary K-Pop group to promote their new album after their military enlistment; the tour is scheduled to begin on April 9, 2026. Starting from Goyang and continuing till 2029, the ARIRANG concert will include more than 82 dates, in 34 cities across 23 countries. This tour is reported to be the largest world tour to date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are fans asking BTS to cancel their Indonesia concert?
Fans have raised concerns after the online clashes between Korean and Southeast Asian netizens, which resulted in targeting and remarking on RM (Kim Namjoon), a member of BTS. The issue began over a dispute at a Malaysian concert, where a professional camera blocked the view of the crowd, which later turned into a larger online argument, prompting some fans to demand cancellation of Jakarta shows
Are the Indonesian ARMY responsible for the controversy?
Definitely no, as Indonesian fans have clarified that the actions of a few online accounts do not represent the entire fandom or the nation. Several local supporter in emphasized that they have been reporting and blocking toxic users while continuing to show support for BTS.
How big is the upcoming BTS world tour expected to be?
The upcoming tour of BTS Arirang is reportedly planned to span across multiple continent covering over 82 dates across more than 34cities across 23 countries, potentially making it one of the largest tours in K-Pop history.
When will all BTS members complete their military service?
All seven members have completed their mandatory military service by mid-2025, making their 2026 tour one of the most anticipated comebacks in K-Pop history.
