Pramono Backs Down on BTS Concert Venue: Fine at GBK, ARMY Upset Over JIS
Governor of DKI Jakarta Pramono Anung claims to have been scolded by ARMY, fans of the South Korean music group BTS, over his desire to use Jakarta International Stadium (JIS) as the concert location. Pramono is now willing to concede if the music group’s concert is held at Gelora Bung Karno (GBK).
He stated this while attending a Halal Bi Halal event with the ITB Student Parents Association in South Jakarta on Sunday (19/4/2026). Initially, Pramono mentioned that there would be several major concerts in Jakarta this year.
“This year there will be several big concerts, including Guns N’ Roses, then Metallica, The Weeknd, but this one I dare not mention,” Pramono said in his presentation.
Pramono also shared his desire for BTS to perform at JIS. However, Pramono said he was once ‘attacked’ by ARMY because of that desire.
“Because yesterday I said I wanted BTS to play at JIS, wow, all the ARMY got angry with me. And my child happens to be an ARMY too, ‘Just let it play at GBK, Dad.’ This time I’m conceding, if it’s at GBK that’s fine too,” he said.
Furthermore, Pramono stated that he would no longer comment on the location of BTS’s concert in Jakarta. He is leaving the concert location entirely up to them.
“My child is also an ARMY, until I was woken up by a knock on the door, ‘Dad, why are you meddling with ARMY? Just let the ARMY enjoy it.’ I said ‘okay, from today onwards your father won’t make any more statements.’ So I’m leaving it to God,” he remarked.
Previously, when opening the Musyawarah Perencanaan Pembangunan (Musrenbang) for the 2027 Regional Government Work Plan at Jakarta City Hall on Thursday (16/4), Pramono mentioned he was fighting for JIS as the location for BTS’s concert. There are two possibilities: the BTS concert being held at JIS or Gelora Bung Karno (GBK).
“The one I haven’t succeeded with yet is that I really want BTS to play there (JIS). This is still a fight for whether it’s at JIS or GBK,” Pramono said.
“Yes, even though both are in Jakarta, but I really want GBK or JIS to get a challenge on how BTS playing there would be,” he added.
According to him, hosting international artist concerts is part of efforts to make Jakarta a global city. He believes that international-scale activities can boost Jakarta’s attractiveness, not only as a business city but also as a tourism destination.
Pramono noted that the current trend in visits to Jakarta shows an increase in tourists’ length of stay. Previously averaging only about 1-1.5 days, it has now increased to nearly 3 days.
“Why is that happening? Because they feel that Jakarta is not just a business city but also a tourism city. Even the main tourism now is shopping tourism,” he added.