Ahead of BTS's concert in Busan, hotel prices surged, prompting President Lee Jae-myung to call for improvements in the tourism sector.
May/28/2026 11:37Related Groups & Members
Before the BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan) concert in Busan, the issue of price hikes by some accommodation providers has emerged, prompting President Lee Jae-myung to call for improvements. On May 27, during the preparation report meeting for the '48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee' held at Busan BEXCO, President Lee mentioned, 'Busan's image is deteriorating due to the price hikes related to BTS's concert. I believe improvements are necessary.' The 'BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG' IN BUSAN' scheduled for June 12-13 sold out immediately upon reservation, attracting great interest from fans worldwide. However, as concert information spread, some accommodation prices surged to an average of 2.4 times on weekdays, and up to 3.3 times for hotels. Additionally, some providers unilaterally canceled reservations to seek further profits, causing harm to fans, which has been a concern. In response, Acting Mayor Kim Gyeong-deok of Busan apologized, stating, 'We apologize for the inconvenience caused,' and added, 'As a measure from Busan City regarding this issue, we have opened public accommodation facilities and youth training centers to accommodate about 800 people. We are also launching a campaign for fair accommodation. Even temples and church sanctuaries are participating and accepting accommodation requests. We will expand these efforts in the remaining two weeks and eliminate such practices.' President Lee called for not just short-term measures but a fundamental improvement in Busan's tourism industry. 'If discussions of price hikes arise again when attracting large-scale events, it will tarnish Busan's overall image. I hope you prepare well. Busan has various future possibilities, and among them, the tourism sector has very high potential,' he stated, adding, 'The biggest obstacles are unkindness, price gouging, and a kind of discrimination. We must be careful.' He also mentioned, 'If prices are raised just because tourists are coming, or if insulting words are used, or if unkind responses are posted on YouTube, it can be ruined in an instant.' Acting Mayor Kim promised, 'Regarding the BTS concert, we are conducting concentrated checks on such providers in collaboration with the local National Tax Service and the Fair Trade Commission. We will thoroughly address such issues to prevent them from happening in the future.' President Lee pointed out, 'We must look at the long term. Trying to make money in front of us can lead to fatal injuries.' An industry insider stated in an interview with Newsen, 'There are voices calling for self-purification efforts to prevent the entire city's image from being damaged. With the President warning, it will be interesting to see if strict checks by the government and local authorities can curb market profiteering.'
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