President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that the K-pop group Stray Kids will join her and South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung at the National Palace on Thursday, Sept. 24. The band is in Mexico to mark the official visit of the South Korean leader, who will speak about trade and investment cooperation alongside the growth of Korean cultural content in the nation.
Sheinbaum made the announcement during her Thursday morning press conference. “The group coming is called Stray Kids,” she said. “They’re kind of like BTS, but younger. I don’t know if they’re boys and girls — they’re young, younger than the members of BTS.”
The Comparison Holds Up
The remark is backed by the ages: BTS members span 29 to 34, whereas Stray Kids fall between 25 and 28.
Sheinbaum framed the visit as part of a broader cultural shift. “What is known as K-pop has been very successful in various areas, including music, movies and TV series, and that has brought Mexican and Korean youth closer together,” she explained. “This is part of what we will discuss.”
Tickets for Low-Income Families
She also confirmed that her administration will give away 10 tickets to kids from low-income families for the show Stray Kids will hold at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City on Friday, Sept. 25. The tickets will go out through the National System for Integral Family Development in Mexico.
Sheinbaum was asked about the possibility of a free concert in Zócalo, Mexico City’s main public square. Her response was diplomatic: “We’ll see.”
BTS Set the Precedent
This year, Stray Kids will join BTS as the second K-pop group to meet with the president of Mexico. When BTS visited last May, they stepped onto a balcony at the presidential residence and waved to an estimated 50,000 fans gathered in the Zócalo, per figures from the Mexico City government.
Before the concerts even took place, Sheinbaum had asked President Lee Jae Myung for permission to hold more BTS shows in the country. Her request was made during an argument about the presale and high demand for tickets for BTS’ shows at Estadio GNP Seguros, which pushed the Mexican government to demand transparency from Ticketmaster Mexico regarding how the tickets were sold.
The South Korean entertainment company HYBE, which backs BTS and several other major groups, is building up its position in Latin America by first putting down roots in Mexico. There, it has set up local operations, its own infrastructure, specialized teams, and talent development projects, all geared toward opening up new chances for global entertainment to come out of the region.
Key Facts
- Meeting: Thursday, Sept. 24 at the National Palace
- Show: Friday, Sept. 25 at Estadio GNP Seguros, Mexico City
- Gift tickets: 10 for children from low-income families
- BTS ages: 29 to 34
- Stray Kids ages: 25 to 28
- BTS wave count: Approximately 50,000 fans in Zócalo last May
Stray Kids’ trip keeps up a tradition of K-pop acts serving as a kind of diplomatic presence in Mexico. BTS followed this route last May, when they met with the president and brought a large crowd to the Zócalo.
Source material: “Mexican President Confirms Stray Kids to Visit National Palace: ‘They’re Kind of Like BTS, But Younger’,” Billboard.
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