BTS's ARMY Win Over Chile's Police: 2,500 ID Checks, No Public Order Problems

"They behaved very well, and thanks to that there were no problems with public order." That was Gen. Alex Baamondes, head of Chilean police for the western Santiago metropolitan area, speaking about BTS's ARMY on the 17th, even as police reported 15 arrests around the National Stadium.

According to Chilean broadcaster T13 and other outlets, police carried out security operations around the stadium during BTS's Santiago shows. They made the 15 arrests and ran more than 2,500 identity checks and vehicle stops. Baamondes said he wanted to "appreciate and praise" ARMY's conduct, noting that fans stayed orderly and cooperated with officers despite the huge crowds.

What the arrests did and did not involve

The arrests are easy to misread, so the details matter. One of the 15 was detained on fraud charges, and the reasons for the other 14 have not been disclosed. It is also unconfirmed whether all of them were attending the concerts. Baamondes urged fans to be careful when buying tickets to avoid scams.

Praise from more than one agency

The goodwill was not limited to street policing. Chile's Investigative Police (PDI) publicly commended BTS fans who passed through immigration checks at the airport and at the Argentina, Bolivia and Peru borders, saying they cooperated throughout the entry and exit process.

The police band joined in too. On the 16th, it played BTS's hit "Dynamite" in a square near La Moneda, the presidential palace. A police official told T13 the performance was meant to thank the audience at BTS's first show for their orderly behavior. It is a small, warm gesture, and a fitting one for a song built around bright, easy cheer.

BTS played the National Stadium in Santiago on the 14th, then again on the 16th and 17th, as part of the ARIRANG world tour. Between the general's remarks, the PDI's praise and the band's street-side set, the attention in Chile has landed squarely on how ARMY showed up.