BTS V's coined phrase "Mucho Picante," President Lee and his wife also shouted it in Mexico [K-EYES]

*This content was translated by AI.

"Mucho Picante," a meme popularized by BTS V, was also shouted by President Lee Jae-myung…Mexican fans call it "Tae-hyung's iconic phrase"

BTS (RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, Jungkook) member V's single remark made in Mexico last May resurfaced from the mouth of South Korea's president four months later. "Mucho Picante," a phrase that has already become synonymous with V among Mexican fans, echoed once again at a cultural exchange event between South Korea and Mexico.

According to videos spread on social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, President Lee Jae-myung and his wife Kim Hye-kyung concluded a brief interview at the K-EXPO site in Mexico City on the 25th (local time). At the host's suggestion, they jointly shouted V's catchphrase. The video captured them responding to the question "Shall we wrap up now? What should we shout?" with "Mucho Picante!" and then chanting together: "One, two, three! Mexico Mucho Picante!"

The video quickly circulated through multiple fan accounts, drawing reactions such as "Even the president knows V's catchphrase" and "A scene proving K-pop's influence."

"Mucho Picante" originated from a remark V made in Mexico City last May. On May 6 (local time), BTS visited the National Palace at the official invitation of Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico, exchanged pleasantries with her, and then joined her on the balcony to greet approximately 50,000 fans filling Zocalo Square.

At that event, V delivered a pre-prepared greeting, "Mexico, Mucho Picante," winning over the hearts of the fans. His subsequent utterance of "Mucho Picante" became a meme after topping the most-mentioned terms on local social media for two consecutive days and sparking explosive reactions.

The scene also became a topic locally. Mexican newspaper El País included 'México mucho picante' in its headline, while the U.S. daily Los Angeles Times later reported on BTS reusing the phrase V created during their Mexico performance.

Notably, the Los Angeles Times introduced that after V first shouted the expression from the balcony of the National Palace, the members repeated it again during their Mexico concert, explaining it as a phrase coined by V.

The British daily The Times also covered the scene on its front page under the headline "BTS leaves Oh Myeon (President) speechless." Even four months later, the phrase continues to be quoted at K-pop events and official occasions in Mexico.

This time, the expression reappeared during President Lee's official state visit itinerary. Infobae, reporting on President Lee's visit to K-EXPO, stated that he shouted this phrase on-site.

Overseas fans also quickly shared the scene. On TikTok and X, reactions included "The South Korean president and first lady concluded with Tae-hyung's iconic 'Mucho Picante'," "Mucho Picante King," and "Kim Tae-hyung creates trends without even trying." Some fans juxtaposed President Lee's on-site remark with V's video from May in Mexico, emphasizing the connection between the two moments.

How strongly V's single remark is remembered within the local fandom is evident from last May's reactions. At that time, El País reported that around 50,000 Mexican ARMY gathered in front of the National Palace, and after BTS members greeted fans in Spanish from the balcony, V shouted "México mucho picante."

Meanwhile, Mexico has once again officially mentioned BTS's planned return visit in 2027. President Claudia Sheinbaum stated in a joint message following her summit with President Lee Jae-myung on the 24th: "We look forward to BTS returning to Mexico in 2027." This reaffirms earlier reports that President Sheinbaum had invited BTS members to revisit Mexico last May, and the members expressed positive intentions. However, no specific performance dates or venues have been announced so far.

Both countries also discussed expanding cultural exchanges during this summit. President Sheinbaum mentioned the possibility of establishing a cultural center in Mexico to introduce Korean culture, including K-pop, while President Lee noted that Mexican interest is growing not only in K-pop but also across Korean culture such as K-beauty and K-food. Both nations agreed to pursue cooperation on co-producing content and cultivating talent.

During their Mexico state visit, President Lee Jae-myung and his wife visited a "random play dance" event attended by local K-pop fans, exchanging hand hearts with participants. Later that evening, they also attended the Korea-Mexico cultural exchange concert "Stray City," featuring Stray Kids, and held a meeting with local teenage fans, continuing their cultural diplomacy efforts centered on K-pop.

V's playful remark to Mexican fans last May has resurfaced not merely as a fandom meme but as an expression symbolizing the cultural closeness between South Korea and Mexico in the local context.

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*This content was translated by AI.