Photo = Weverse BTS live capture

 

Fans are being left with nowhere to go as accommodation fees become more expensive than concert tickets. Ahead of BTS’s world tour concert ‘BTS WORLD TOUR ARIRANG IN BUSAN,’ set to be held in Busan on the 12th and 13th of next month, controversy over price gouging has erupted again as some accommodations have raised their rates dozens of times higher than usual. As cases of canceled reservations have also followed, backlash from fans is growing.

 

In particular, as this concert overlaps with June 13, BTS’s debut anniversary, interest from fans in Korea and overseas has become even more concentrated, and voices reporting damage are growing louder.

 

On SNS X (formerly Twitter), screenshots were shared showing motel room rates that are normally around 57,000 KRW rising to 3 million KRW during the concert period. One user complained, “A place that usually costs around 60,000 KRW jumped to 760,000 KRW,” adding, “The accommodation fee is more expensive than airfare.” Among fans, reactions such as “Let’s not spend money in Busan” and “I won’t spend even 1 KRW” have continued.

 

As the controversy grew, Busan City formed a joint inspection team with the Fair Trade Commission, Korea Consumer Agency, police, and fire authorities to intensively inspect excessive accommodation charges, unilateral reservation cancellations, unreported operations, and more. If malicious price gouging is confirmed, the city plans to cooperate with the National Tax Service and request a tax investigation.

 

The city also prepared public accommodation facilities that can accommodate about 400 foreigners, including Geumnyeonsan Gudeok Youth Training Center and Naewonjeongsa Temple Stay, and reservations closed within a week of opening. Hostel Arpina, operated by Busan Metropolitan Corporation, has also maintained its existing rates under a “fair price policy,” and most reservations have already been completed.

 

BTS members also directly spoke out about the issue. The members recently mentioned the Busan accommodation fee controversy during a Weverse live. RM said, “There’s been so much news about accommodations in Busan. It’s unfortunate because it’s something we can’t resolve.” JIMIN said, “It doesn’t feel good. This should be a happy occasion, and when fans come, I hope they leave with only good memories. This is too much. They should keep it reasonable.” JUNG KOOK delivered a pointed message to accommodation operators in Busan dialect, saying, “Goma haera,” meaning “Stop it already.”

 

This is not the first time such a phenomenon has occurred. During BTS’s first world tour concert in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province last April, there were similar cases where nearby hotel rates jumped three to four times higher and accommodation rates more than doubled.

 

When a concert is held, nearby commercial districts enjoy meaningful economic effects through fans’ spending. However, excessive price increases are being criticized for creating the opposite effect by triggering boycott movements among fans.

 

BTS has continued to receive steady love with their 5th studio album ‘ARIRANG,’ released last March, occasionally appearing on Hanteo’s weekly chart and country-specific chart and showing their status as the emperors of K-POP.