Ahead of the BTS concert to be held in Busan on the 12th–13th, the government moved to secure "alternative lodging" as a measure against price gouging on accommodations, but it was found that, even a week before the show, not all lodging assignments had been finalized. For those without an assignment, they still do not know where they will stay.
The government recently said, through its "status of implementing measures to eradicate price gouging and future plans," that it had secured free and paid alternative lodging facilities in the Busan area such as universities, religious facilities, public institution training centers, and youth training facilities. The alternative lodging is provided only for foreigners.
As of the 4th, the government had prepared facilities that can accommodate about 2,000 people. The government and Busan City said they "plan to continue securing additional facilities until before the concert."
However, it turned out that fewer than half of the currently secured alternative lodging units have actually been assigned. According to Busan City, as of the 4th, assignments were completed for 846 people at Geumryeonsan and Gudeok Youth Training Centers, Naewonjeongsa, and Busan Metropolitan Corporation (BMC) Arpina.
Temples such as Beomeosa, Hongbeopsa, and Seonamsa, as well as churches and cathedrals, and 243 spots at Pusan National University, Pukyong National University, and Kosin University finished taking applications last week, but final assignment notices have not yet been issued. The remaining lodging is understood to be awaiting the application process. It means a significant number of the alternative lodgings the government said it secured have not reached the assignment stage even a week before the show.
A government official said, "We are still identifying alternative lodging in Busan," adding, "We will try to complete lodging confirmations and guidance next week if possible."
Less than a week remains before the BTS concert. From the perspective of tourists who need to move after confirming transportation and lodging, complaints are growing that the longer the alternative lodging guidance is delayed, the greater the anxiety becomes. Situations may arise in which people cancel existing reservations while waiting to see if they receive a free lodging assignment, or, conversely, give up applying for alternative lodging and accept expensive accommodations.
Dissatisfaction is also emerging within the government. A government official who requested anonymity said, "The intent to eradicate price gouging is good, but there is the question of how far the government should support a concert hosted by private corporations," adding, "There could also be issues of fairness between those who get government-provided lodging and those who do not, as well as damages from reservation cancellations for business owners who raised prices within the normal range."
Meanwhile, to eradicate price gouging on accommodations in nearby areas during the BTS concert period, the government also announced measures to expand transportation and screen late-night movies at CGV and Lotte Cinema near the venue, in addition to securing alternative lodging.
In a survey conducted in February by the Korea Fair Trade Commission and the Korea Consumer Agency (KCA), lodging rates during the week of the BTS Busan concert rose to an average of 2.4 times the level of the weekends before and after. The average rate for a one-night reservation on the concert weekend (June 13–14) was 433,999 won, exceeding the previous week (240,320 won) and the following week (231,180 won). Some lodgings saw increases of up to 7.5 times.