Mexican President Explains Stray Kids’ Absence at National Palace

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the public on Thursday, Sept. 24, to clarify a misunderstanding regarding the whereabouts of the K-pop group Stray Kids. The confusion arose after the president had previously announced that the group would accompany South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung during his official visit to the National Palace.

When the group failed to appear at the presidential headquarters as expected, fans who had gathered in anticipation were left waiting. In a video posted to her official TikTok account, Sheinbaum explained the situation, noting that while she had hoped for their presence, the group was simply in town for their own scheduled performances.

“We are seeing off the president of the Republic of Korea, Lee Jae Myung,” Sheinbaum said in the video. “We thought perhaps he was coming with the group Stray Kids. They are performing tomorrow at one of Mexico City’s most important venues. And we have already invited them to come to our country on another occasion.”

The band, whose members range in age from 25 to 28, is currently in Mexico City for two sold-out shows at the GNP Seguros Stadium. During her earlier morning press conference, Sheinbaum had expressed her enthusiasm for the group, comparing them to BTS while noting their younger demographic. “The group coming is called Stray Kids,” she remarked. “They’re kind of like BTS, but younger.”

The announcement had drawn dozens of fans to the Zócalo, hoping to catch a glimpse of the stars. Ultimately, only President Sheinbaum and President Lee Jae Myung appeared on the balcony to greet the crowd. This incident follows a similar visit last May by BTS, whose members famously appeared on the presidential balcony to wave to approximately 50,000 fans, a moment that remains a significant cultural touchstone in Mexico City.