SINGAPORE – Full-time national serviceman Thevin Ong knows what it feels like to lose the online ticketing war.

For K-pop girl group Blackpink’s National Stadium concerts in November 2025, the 19-year-old Singaporean spent hours in the queue across three devices, but came away empty-handed. He eventually got to attend one show only because his secondary school friend managed to get a ticket that cost him around $230.

It was the same with American singer Bruno Mars’ concerts at the same venue in 2024. Ong tried, failed, and ended up going only because his then-girlfriend had tickets.

But for the BTS concerts at the National Stadium in December, he will not have to go through any of that when pre-sales begin on June 3. All he has to do is send a WhatsApp message.

As the winner of the inaugural The Kallang Pass, a signature all-access pass introduced and given away during the Countdown 2026 At The Kallang show on Dec 31, 2025, he gets a pair of complimentary Category 2 tickets to any event at the National Stadium and Singapore Indoor Stadium throughout 2026.

His seats are secured the moment he replies to a list of upcoming shows sent to him via text by his dedicated liaison at The Kallang.

“How does it make me feel? A bit special,” he tells The Straits Times.

He has been listening to the K-pop boy band’s discography and is looking forward to watching them for the first time. But he is trying to avoid any news, videos or social media posts about BTS’ Ari...