Busan hotels and motels are under inspection after room prices surged ahead of BTS’s June 12 and June 13 concerts in the city. One room that usually cost 60,000 won a night reportedly climbed to 760,000 won, while city officials moved to curb what they called excessive hikes.
The Fair Trade Commission and the Korea Consumer Agency checked 135 hotels and motels in Busan and found that average room rates during the concert week were more than doubled compared with the weekends before and after the event. Motel rates more than tripled from normal levels, hotel rates nearly tripled, and some properties set prices more than five times higher.
The most extreme jumps showed how quickly demand turned into leverage. One 100,000 won room rose to 750,000 won, and one 300,000 won room reached 1.8 million won. Fans also reported that some accommodations canceled existing reservations after the concert announcement, adding to the anger around the price spikes.
The concerts are part of BTS’s ARIRANG world tour, and the dates overlap with the group’s debut anniversary on June 13. That combination is expected to draw domestic and global fans to Busan, while the Busan Metropolitan Government prepares related events and the city expands its response to complaints.
Busan city has already launched joint inspections aimed at possible violations of the Public Health Control Act and warned businesses against pushing rates too far. Officials also said they plan targeted inspections of accommodations drawing visitor complaints. The pressure on room prices now sits at the center of the city’s biggest test around the concerts: whether Busan can welcome the crowds without letting the surge in demand turn into open gouging.
