The group BTS (Image courtesy of Big Hit Music)
SEOUL & BUSAN, Jan. 17 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s port city of Busan said it will take strong action against excessive accommodation fees ahead of a highly anticipated BTS concert scheduled for June 12–13, after reports surfaced of hotel prices surging sharply as fans prepare to travel from across the country and abroad.
City officials announced Friday that Busan will introduce a QR-based reporting system allowing visitors to flag suspected price gouging. Complaints submitted through the system will be forwarded via the Korea Tourism Organization to local governments and relevant agencies for investigation.
The city has distributed posters and stickers promoting the reporting system to hotels and guesthouses and posted public guidance on its official website. Beginning next week, joint inspection teams formed with district offices will conduct on-site checks of accommodations reported online, focusing on unfair practices such as unreasonable price increases and failure to honor reservation terms.
Violations, including excessive charges and deceptive booking conditions, may affect a property’s hotel-grade evaluation, city officials said.
The group BTS (Image source: j-hope’s Instagram)
Busan also plans to convene a tourism readiness meeting involving relevant agencies to discuss broader countermeasures against sharp price hikes. Once the concert venue is finalized, the city will promote lodging areas with strong public transportation access to help disperse booking demand and ease pressure on specific districts.
Mayor Park Heong-joon said the city would mobilize all available administrative resources to ensure a fair and orderly tourism environment. “Through active online reporting and on-site inspections, we will prevent unfair accommodation practices and thoroughly prepare for the successful hosting of this global event,” he said.
President Lee Jae-myung weighed in earlier this week, sharing news reports on social media that some accommodation prices in Busan had risen by as much as tenfold following confirmation of the BTS concert. Calling the practice “predatory behavior that disrupts market order and harms everyone,” he urged authorities to impose penalties severe enough to outweigh any illicit gains.
BTS Returns With Global Tour Spanning 34 Cities and 79 Shows (Image courtesy of Big Hit Music)
The president has repeatedly raised the issue of price gouging, arguing that it has undermined domestic tourism. In a Cabinet meeting last September, he called for fines and sanctions beyond administrative guidance alone.
Separately, international attention is growing around BTS’s upcoming studio album, Arirang, set for release on March 20. According to BigHit Music, global media outlets have highlighted the cultural significance of the title, drawn from Korea’s most iconic folk song.
Forbes described the album name as symbolizing a return to the group’s roots following a prolonged hiatus, while the U.S. music outlet Consequence noted that the folk song’s themes of separation, longing and reunion resonate with the group’s first full-length release in nearly four years.
The album will feature 14 tracks exploring identity, longing and deep affection, the group said. BTS is scheduled to launch a new large-scale world tour on April 9 at Goyang Sports Complex, marking a full return to global stages.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
