03/02/2026

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Mexico wants more BTS o Country’s president urges for tour dates after tickets sell out

A ROUND the world, hundreds of thousands of fans of K-pop megastar BTS are nursing disappointment after failing to secure a ticket for its highly-anticipated comeback tour. But only in one country, Mexico, has the dearth of tickets become a matter for the highest office in the land. BTS will perform three dates in Mexico City in May. The tickets, which went on sale last week, sold out in minutes, demonstrating the growing fervor among Mexicans for all aspects of South Korean culture, from television series to cuisine, to of course K-pop. The government has sought to cash in on the act. When it was announced BTS would perform in Mexico, Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, a longtime fan, posted a video on TikTok in which he is seen greeting Jin, a member of the band. Now, President Claudia Sheinbaum has gotten involved. Addressing reporters last Monday, she declared “nearly a million young people” had vied for one of the coveted 150,000 tickets to BTS’s Mexican gigs. Moved by the disappointment of the unlucky many, she said she wrote to South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung to ask that he “bring the acclaimed K-pop artistes more often” to her country. Sheinbaum said she had also asked Ocesa, the promoter of the shows in Mexico, about the possibility of organising more dates but received a negative answer. BTS have not toured or released music since 2022 as the members underwent the national military service required of all South Korean men under age 30. The band’s label announced on New Year’s Day it would release a new album in March before heading on a mega-tour the following month that will take in 34 cities. – AFP

BTS will perform three dates in Mexico City in May. – AFPPIC

Mattel taps into KPop Demon Hunters fandom with new dolls American Girl is offering 18-inch dolls of all three main characters, each crafted

MATTEL teased fans of KPop Demon Hunters last Tuesday with a new line-up of dolls to be rolled out later this year after it failed to cash in on the success of the runaway Netflix hit over the holiday shopping season. KPop Demon Hunters is Netflix’s most popular film ever, hitting over 500 million views since its release. Mattel, however, did not foresee its crossover appeal, a source told Reuters last year. The new toys will start rolling out this summer, roughly a year after the film’s release, as Mattel hopes merchandise can stoke its continued popularity. “We really believe this brand and this franchise has evergreen potential. “We’re going to be staging different collections, different assortments throughout the year,” Mattel’s chief global brand officer Roberto Stanichi said at the International Toy Fair in the southern German city of Nuremberg, where the toys were unveiled. From toymaker to entertainment player Facing declining retail sales, the Barbie and Hot Wheels maker is repositioning itself as a worldwide entertainment player, giving new life to its intellectual properties through Hollywood partnerships. With more than 14 films in the pipeline, Mattel expressed hopes to repeat the success of 2023 blockbuster Barbie with a live-action version of Masters of the Universe in June and will release a new He-Man toy line soon to build buzz. While no announcement has yet been made, industry publication Deadline reported

with a signature look inspired by the series.

KPop Demon Hunters (from left) Mira, Rumi and Zoey dolls. – PICS FROM MATTEL

Billboard number one hit Golden . The Huntr/x stars along with frenemy boy band Saja Boys members and other characters will be released across Mattel’s Polly Pocket, Uno and Little People Collector brands. The dolls will sell for around US$40 (RM157.68) to US$45, while Polly Pocket tiny capsules, featuring the girl band’s favourite ramen cups, will retail for about US$8. Some products will not be available until autumn.

a KPop Demon Hunters sequel is in the works for a possible 2029 release. “We have ambitious plans for the franchise, but I’m not able to share them yet. “Merchandise is essential to extend the life of an IP like this,” Netflix senior director of consumer products Filippo Zuffada said. Netflix, which was already offering KPop Demon Hunters apparel, accessories and collectibles through its online shop, announced a licencing partnerships with

Mattel as well as Hasbro in October. Stanichi said the process of developing a product from an idea to commercial launch typically takes around 18 months, and for the KPop Demon Hunters line, it worked with Netflix to speed that up without sacrificing details. The dolls inspired by Rumi, Zoey and Mira – the film’s girl band members by day, demon hunters by night – will initially be available with two looks, including dolls who sing their