BTS Is Coming, and So Is Price Gouging... Busan Wages War on Overcharging

Busan Inspects Tourism Readiness Ahead of World Tour Concert

Public-Private Campaign in Seomyeon; Crackdown on Reservation Cancellations Strengthened

Busan Metropolitan City has begun inspecting tourism readiness among the city’s accommodation and restaurant industries ahead of the upcoming BTS concert in Busan.

According to Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heongjoon), a public-private joint campaign to establish tourism readiness was held in the Seomyeon area of Busanjin-gu on the 8th.

The campaign included the city’s Tourism MICE Industry Division and Health and Sanitation Division, as well as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Busan Regional Food and Drug Administration, Busanjin-gu, Korea Tourism Organization, Busan Tourism Association, Busan Branch of the Korea Hotel Association, and Busan Branch of the Korea Foodservice Industry Association.

Participants visited hotels and restaurants, urging them to maintain reasonable pricing, provide friendly service, and ensure proper hygiene management.

This inspection was conducted to restore tourist confidence and manage the city’s tourism image, especially as some accommodation facilities have come under scrutiny for raising prices ahead of the BTS World Tour Arirang IN Busan concert.

To address the shortage of accommodations, the city is also operating a public lodging project involving religious institutions, universities, and public and private organizations. Currently, 26 alternative accommodation facilities have been secured, providing lodging for 1,771 people, and 21 households are participating in a homestay program that has matched 46 foreign tourists with local residents.

The local accommodation industry is also making efforts at self-regulation. Ninety-one hotels in the Busan area have joined the Fair Accommodation Challenge, and both the Busan Branch of the Korea Hotel Association and the Busan Tourism Association have recently held a resolution meeting, pledging to maintain appropriate pricing.

The city plans to respond firmly to cases of excessive accommodation charges or reservation cancellations that may harm tourists during the concert period. Complaints received through the Tourism Inconvenience Reporting Center will be addressed in cooperation with relevant agencies such as the National Tax Service, the Fair Trade Commission, Korea Consumer Agency, and the police.

In particular, the city plans to actively cooperate with the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency in investigating cases where reservations are unilaterally canceled and rooms are resold at higher prices.

Mayor Park Heongjoon stated, "This concert is a large-scale event that will bring BTS fans from all over the world to Busan," and added, "We will strive to enhance Busan’s tourism competitiveness through fair pricing and friendly service."

On the 8th, a public-private joint campaign to establish a tourism hospitality system was held in the Seomyeon area of Busanjin-gu.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.