00:00A massive surge in demand for BTS tickets in Mexico has reached all the way to the presidential palace.
00:11Country leader Claudia Shanebom says she has formally asked South Korean President Lee Jae-myung to help secure more concerts.
00:19That is after many fans in Mexico complained about failing to secure tickets for the K-pop group's upcoming world tour.
00:25Shanebom says around a million young Mexicans tried to buy tickets, but only 150,000 were available for the three shows scheduled in the Capitol this May.
00:36The frenzy comes as BTS launches its first global tour since a hiatus that began in 2022, while members fulfilled South Korea's mandatory military service.
00:48The planned release of their new album Arirang in March has intensified the global scramble for seats.
00:53In Mexico, that rush has become a full-blown consumer dispute.
00:59The country's consumer watchdog has opened an investigation into Ticketmaster and is sanctioning resale platform StubHub and Viagogo, accusing them of, quote, abusive and disloyal practices.
01:10Fans report soaring resale prices, with some listings running at over $5,300, far above an original range that started at around $100.
01:20The watchdog says it's now working on new rules to better control ticket sales for concerts and festivals.
01:28The companies did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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