"BTS Concert Prices Soar to 3.5 Million KRW per Night... Busan Accommodation 'Overcharging' Controversy"

Busan City "Aware of Price Increase and Discussing Guidance"

On the day of the Busan concert by the group BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan), nearby accommodations reportedly raised their prices significantly.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] The group BTS held a concert in Busan, causing accommodation prices in Busan to skyrocket on the day of the event, leading to growing complaints from fans. There have also been reports that existing reservations made before and after the concert schedule were unilaterally canceled and prices were raised.

BTS will hold a concert on October 15 to support the bid for the 2030 Busan World Expo. The event, held at a special stage in Ilgwang, Gijang-gun, Busan, is expected to attract around 100,000 attendees.

Following the news, numerous posts appeared on social networking services (SNS) and online communities reporting that accommodation prices in Gijang-gun and the Haeundae area surged before and after the concert period. Some lodging businesses, anticipating a surge in demand known as the 'BTS effect,' listed rooms at prices higher than peak season rates.

Recently, numerous posts have surfaced on social networking services (SNS) and online communities exposing that accommodation providers are charging exorbitant prices on the day of the BTS concert. Photo by Online Community

Citizens are outraged that some lodging businesses have raised prices unreasonably. One netizen said, "Are they just trying to make money this time in Busan and let everything else fail? They are ruining the city's image," adding, "I had three cancellations and rejections for accommodations yesterday and today, and my mental state is shattered. At this rate, I might end up sleeping rough at Busan Station." Another netizen criticized, "It looks like they are trying to exploit the opportunity to overcharge for just one day," and questioned, "Is this really Busan's sincere wish to receive support from the many ARMYs (BTS fandom) worldwide?" There were also complaints about some establishments charging 3.5 million KRW for one night on the day of the concert.

In fact, some hotel booking sites confirmed that accommodation prices on the concert day surged by about 2 to 5 times compared to the previous week.

As the controversy grew, the Busan city government stated in interviews with media outlets such as Chosun.com, "We are aware that accommodation prices have increased in relation to the event," and added, "We are discussing measures for city-level guidance in cooperation with relevant departments." However, they also noted, "City guidance is only a recommendation. Since it is a private sector matter, we cannot enforce mandatory actions."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.