BTS fans blast ‘obscenely high’ room prices ahead of Busan concerts

South Korean religious groups, universities and public institutions are offering free or affordable accommodation options for BTS fans who have become targets of price gouging ahead of the supergroup’s June concerts in Busan, but supply remains limited, leaving many to stick with their existing plans.Busan is hosting BTS’ June 12 and 13 concerts as part of its “Arirang” world tour. As June 13 is also the K-pop group’s 13th debut anniversary and the first in many years after their historic comeback as a group in March, the event is estimated to draw a substantial number of international and local fans to the city.To cash in on the opportunity, accommodation businesses have set rates at an average of 7.5 times higher than the usual, according to the Korea Consumer Agency’s data based on filed complaints. Some businesses have reportedly cancelled existing reservations, citing “overbooking” or “renovations” to open the slots at much higher rates. This led President Lee Jae Myung to speak out on the issue on Wednesday.The situation has left many fans to resort to paying exorbitant rates or find options outside Busan.Eunice, a teacher travelling from the Philippines for the concert, booked a hotel in the adjacent city of Ulsan, northeast of Busan, after noting the Airbnb prices jumped tenfold for a particular place she wanted to book. She will spend the night in Ulsan before the June 13 concert and then spend the rest of her four-day stay in Seoul.“The prices are obscenely high and to be honest, the way Busan accommodation has been acting makes me, as a fan, wish that my favourite group could just avoid the city next time, which is unfair because I’m sure Busan is a great place, and there’s a lot of fun tourist attractions,” the 28-year-old said.“I wanted to explore the city, but I’m now forced to find accommodation elsewhere. Seoul had a free BTS concert and Airbnb prices stayed more or less the same [at least based on my research], so it’s frustrating that it’s not the case in Busan.”