Ahead of BTS’s upcoming Busan concert, some lodging businesses are facing backlash for sharply raising their prices during the event period.
Recently, the Fair Trade Commission and the Korea Consumer Agency looked into lodging prices in Busan for the group’s June concert dates. The survey checked 135 accommodations, including 52 hotels, 39 motels, and 44 pensions.
According to the results, the average price for a one night stay during the concert weekend was 2.4 times higher than the week before or the week after.
Motels saw the biggest increase, with prices rising close to 3.3 times higher than usual. Hotels also rose to about 2.9 times their normal price, while pensions showed a smaller increase of about 1.2 times.
Fans have also been sharing cases online where rooms that usually cost around 60,000 KRW per night were listed for as much as 760,000 KRW during the concert period.
Some also claimed that their earlier reservations were canceled, only for the same rooms to be listed again at a higher price.
This has reminded many fans of the same issue from 2022, when BTS held a concert in Busan to support the city’s World Expo bid. At that time, lodging prices in the area also rose sharply and received heavy criticism.
Busan City has reportedly started inspections to prevent excessive lodging prices ahead of the concert. However, there are limits because it is difficult for local authorities to directly control market prices.
Fans expressed frustration, saying, “I will just watch the concert and return the same day,” “I will not spend money in Busan,” and “Do they think fans are easy targets?”
Meanwhile, BTS will hold “BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ IN BUSAN” at Busan Asiad Main Stadium on June 12 and 13. During the same period, the group will also hold “The City” project, filling Busan with BTS themed music and stories.
