“SMTOWN Mexico” Sparks Cancellation Demands From Korean Netizens 

SM Entertainment’s upcoming SMTOWN Live concert in Mexico is facing intense backlash from netizens, who are calling for its cancellation just days before the event is set to go ahead.

SM Entertainment stars at SMTOWN 2014. | OSEN

Part of SM Entertainment’s 30th anniversary world tour, which began in Seoul this January, the show is scheduled for May 9, 2025, at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City. Despite tickets going on sale in mid-December 2024, the 65,000-capacity venue remains largely unfilled.

A tan solo 9 días de su llegada, con recorte de capacidad, precios y con zonas deshabilitadas, así luce el mapa para SMTOWN en México pic.twitter.com/8aSvvSDr2w

— • (@l_og2) May 1, 2025

Seat maps show that the vast majority of sections are only partially sold, including the premium floor sections closest to the stage barricade. Some sections appear to have 90% of their seats still available, and the capacity of the concert has also reportedly been reduced to 50,000 following slow sales.

How these SMTOWN concerts are still not cancelled is beyond me. This is for the Mexico concert that will be held on May 9th… pic.twitter.com/k9HJ3Wk0yL

— 🌿 (@aentivenom) April 18, 2025

Upon seeing the incredibly low ticket sales, many Korean netizens have demanded that SM Entertainment cancels the Mexico concert. Many cite concerns for the idols attending, who face a lengthy 14-hour flight from Seoul to Mexico City — all before needing to perform at the SMTOWN Live in Los Angeles concert just two days later.

| Instiz

• “Please, just cancel it”
• “Cancel it ASAP”
• “I’m not going, so it’s not really my business, but canceling is probably the best move. Don’t drag busy idols around for a pointless tour.”
• “Literally no one wants this”
• “At this point, even the idols going on the tour must be super annoyed”

Even some international fans are calling for a boycott of the tour altogether due to the agency’s alleged mismanagement of artists as well as a disregard for fans.

it’s honestly comical watching sm entertainment scramble to fill stadiums for their smtown concerts. they’re pulling every desperate move in the book—giveaways, influencers begging people to go, hello82 partnerships, random marketing stunts—and yet 50–60% of the arena in mexico…

— khansa (@haniebunnies) April 29, 2025

Fans in Mexico, meanwhile, have suggested a vast list of reasons for the event’s poor sales. One of the biggest concerns for many is the incomplete lineup. Red Velvet is set to appear with only three members (following Wendy and Yeri‘s departure from SM Entertainment earlier this year), while Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon will be absent entirely. Meanwhile, only a few solo artists from SHINee and EXO will be performing.

¡Estamos muy emocionados por ver a IRENE, SEULGI & JOY!❤️ ReVeLuv, ¿ya tienes tus entradas para el #SMTOWN_LIVE_MEXICO_CITY? 🩷

♬ sonido original – OCESA KPOP

The presumed setlist has also become a point of contention. With 17 acts scheduled to perform from 8:00pm onwards — including controversial AI soloist naevis and male rookies SMTR25, who are yet to debut — each artist is expected to perform only two to three songs. Given that many of these artists have recently held their own world tours or are expected to in the future, many feel the setlist will not be worth the price.

| SM Entertainment

Prices themselves have further fueled the backlash. General admission ranged from $1,200 MXN (about $60 USD) to $8,000 MXN (about $400 USD). The “Ultimate VIP Pink Blood” package, meanwhile, cost a staggering $18,000 MXN (approximately $920 USD), offering limited benefits: early access, exclusive merchandise, and soundcheck access with only four pre-selected artists. Mexico’s average monthly wage is around $660 USD.

We need to talk about the abuse from part of the promoter Ocesa and @SMTOWNGLOBAL on those tickets for mexico. Like what is wrong with them?? $19,000MXN (900USD) plus fees for front row at smtown and you don't even give full line up??

— Sharkito | 🇲🇽 (@tiffanyhuggedme) December 9, 2024

Neither of the upcoming SMTOWN Live concerts in Los Angeles nor London has sold out, though London appears to have sold all its floor seats and most other sections ahead of its June 28 date. At a recent hello82 SMTOWN Live pop-up in Los Angeles, fans could claim vouchers to purchase tickets to the concert for just $30 USD.

SM Entertainment turned 30, so we're turning up the deals 🎉
Secure your FREE ticket voucher to purchase an SMTOWN LIVE ticket for $30 at the box office!

🗓️ SMTOWN LIVE POP-UP
Week 1: 4/18 – 4/20 | 11AM-6PM
Week 2: 4/25 – 4/27 | 11AM-6PM

📍 @hello82LA
7323 Beverly Blvd, Los… pic.twitter.com/wAwKSHnF3L

— hello82 LA (@hello82LA) April 15, 2025