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K-pop group aespa's recent concert in São Paulo, Brazil, has generated significant discussion in Korea due to unexpected controversies surrounding empty seats and ticketing issues. Despite attracting over 20,000 attendees, images of sparsely filled upper sections quickly circulated online, leading to widespread debate among fans and media about the concert's planning and execution.
The concert, held on September 4, 2026, at Pacaembu Arena, had 28,732 available seats, but only 21,652 tickets were sold, leaving approximately 7,000 seats empty. This 75% sales rate contrasted sharply with aespa's 2023 São Paulo concert, which sold out an 8,000-seat venue. Organizers, Live Nation, faced criticism for expanding the venue threefold and for offering a 60% discount on standing and north-side seats just before the show, upsetting fans who had purchased full-price tickets. Additionally, expensive VIP packages, priced at over 700,000 KRW (2,689 BRL), led to fan complaints about insufficient interaction time during the "send-off" event, prompting legal action through Brazil's consumer protection agency, Procon.
Local bloggers expressed strong disappointment, noting that while aespa's performance quality was high, the ambitious expansion without considering local purchasing power and the last-minute discounts created a negative experience. They highlighted the stark contrast between the enthusiastic crowd near the stage and the empty upper tiers, suggesting that a more realistic venue size would have resulted in a perfect festival. The sentiment was that the planning missteps overshadowed the artists' efforts and and left a lasting impression of dissatisfaction among dedicated fans.
