Stray Kids are heading to the National Palace in Mexico City on Thursday, Sept. 24, for an official meeting with Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. Sheinbaum confirmed the news during her morning press conference and described the group as“kind of like BTS, but younger.”The bilateral meeting will cover trade, investment cooperation, and expanding South Korean cultural content across Latin America.
Beyond the diplomacy, Sheinbaum announced that Mexico’s government will gift 10 tickets to children from low-income families for Stray Kids’Friday concert at Estadio GNP Seguros. She also left open the possibility of a free Zócalo performance, which would follow in the footsteps of BTS’s massive 50,000-fan balcony moment earlier this year. Stray Kids are now the second K-pop group to meet Mexico’s president in 2026, after BTS visited in May.
The bigger picture? HYBE is expanding operations in Latin America, starting with local operations in Mexico. K-pop’s influence is no longer just about charts and streams, it’s shaping trade conversations and cultural policy between nations. This meeting shows how fan culture has become a genuine diplomatic bridge.
What do you think: should Mexico actually make that free Zócalo concert happen?
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Local Lawton
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