After months of planning, debate and a scramble to solve accommodation woes, Busan is ready to roll out the purple carpet for Army
Visitors line up at the Welcome Center near Busan Station to take part in a citywide stamp rally organized ahead of BTS' concerts slated to take place in the city on Friday and Saturday. (Jin Sia/Busan Metropolitan City)
BUSAN -- With BTS set to perform at Busan Asiad Main Stadium on June 12 and 13, South Korea's second-largest city is preparing for what officials expect will be an influx of roughly 100,000 visitors from around the world.
The effort is part of "BTS The City Arirang," a citywide tourism initiative running from June 5 to 21 that includes exhibitions, fan experiences, cultural programs and special events across Busan.
Kim Dong-hoon, director of Busan Metropolitan City's Tourism Policy Division, speaks about preparations for the Welcome Center and other BTS-related tourism programs. (Tammy Park/The Korea Herald)
"We are turning the entire city into a festival," Kim Dong-hoon, director of the Tourism Policy Division at Busan Metropolitan City, told The Korea Herald.
The stakes extend beyond a typical concert weekend.
The performances coincide with BTS' anniversary celebrations and come amid intense global demand following the group's reunion after military service. Previous BTS-related events in Goyang and Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square drew massive crowds and international media attention, while overseas demand for concert tickets has continued to dominate social media discussions.
For Busan, the event is also an opportunity.
Officials say the goal is to help visitors experience more of the city beyond the concert.
"We hope visitors leave with good memories of Busan and see it as a city they would like to visit again," Kim said.
Scams, resellers and soaring room rates
This photo provided by BigHit Music shows BTS kicking off its “Arirang” world tour with three concerts in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on April 9, 11 and 12, 2026. (BigHit Music)
The preparations, however, have not been without challenges.
Following the announcement of the concerts, accommodation prices in Busan received widespread criticism after some lodging listings appeared online at sharply inflated rates. The controversy grew after reports emerged of rooms being relisted at significantly higher prices during the concert period.
The issue drew national attention, prompting discussions about tourism pricing and Busan's image among international visitors.
"We had been following the news for months about lodging establishments charging 10 to 50 times the usual rate," said the Ven. Jang San, a monk who oversees the templestay program at Beomeosa, a 1,300-year-old Buddhist temple, in Busan. "It even got to the point where some fans were saying they wouldn't spend a single dime in the city."
For the Ven. Jang San, who has lived in Busan for a decade, the reports were troubling.
"Personally, I did not want international visitors to have a bad experience visiting this country, especially here in Busan," he said.
The Ven. Jang San discusses preparations for Beomeosa Templestay program and the origins of the city's accommodation initiative during an interview with The Korea Herald. (Tammy Park/The Korea Herald)
At Beomeosa, that concern took the form of a simple offer: free temple stay accommodations for international fans. The temple could host only about 20 guests per night, but the idea resonated far beyond its mountain grounds.
Other temples joined. Churches followed. Universities opened dormitories. Public institutions and civic organizations stepped forward as well, helping spark a broader citywide effort to provide affordable lodging for visitors through Busan's Fair Accommodation campaign.
"Korea has become a very capitalist country now where a lot of emphasis is put on money and personal wealth," the Ven. Jang San said. "But Korean people still have this sense of unity to gather and work together in times of need, especially if it's for the greater good."
Kim, the Busan official, described the response as a ripple effect, attributing it to what he calls the "Busan spirit."
"Busan people have a 'Let's give it a shot' mentality," Kim said. "If we're not going to do it, we won't do it at all. But if we do, we want to do it properly. That's how the positive energy kept spreading."
For both the city and the temple, the ultimate goal is simple.
"We hope they remember Beomeosa and Busan as a warm place where they are always welcome," the Ven. Jang San said.
BTS figures are displayed at the information desk of Beomeosa's Seon Education Center, adjacent to the templestay accommodations, in Busan. (Tammy Park/The Korea Herald)
Beomeosa Templestay, about a 40-minute drive from Busan Asiad Main Stadium, is offering free accommodations to international concertgoers. The temple's proposal helped inspire a citywide initiative to provide visitors with free or reasonably priced lodging amid controversy over soaring accom…
Read the full article at The Korea Herald →📄Source document: Hybe
8 reports
The Korea HeraldIndependentCenter5 days agoBTS held two sold-out concerts in Busan, attracting approximately 220,000 fans. While the events proceeded without major safety issues, they highlighted existing challenges in managing large-scale K-pop concerts, such as poor crowd management, high accommodation costs, and illegal ticket resales. Delays occurred due to confusion in on-site guidance, congestion at gift distribution areas, and inadequate multilingual support for international attendees.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual observations about logistical challenges faced during the BTS concerts without overtly favoring any particular perspective. It reports on fan experiences and official explanations without using loaded language or emphasizing one side over another.
The Korea HeraldIndependentCenter7 days ago BTS transforms Busan into citywide festival with drone shows and fan eventsBusan celebrated BTS' return with a citywide event featuring drone shows, fan activities, and illuminated landmarks such as the Gwangan Bridge and Busan Harbor Bridge. The event marked both BTS' first concert in the city in four years and their 13th debut anniversary.
Bias read (Center): The article focuses on cultural events and entertainment without taking a political stance or showing bias toward any political ideology. It describes the event objectively, highlighting the scale and features of the celebration without editorializing or emphasizing any particular viewpoint.
The Korea HeraldIndependentCenter8 days ago BTS marks 13th anniversary with emotional Busan homecomingBTS concluded a two-day concert in Busan on June 13, marking their 13th anniversary since their debut. The event took place at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium and attracted around 110,000 attendees on the final day, with a total of approximately 220,000 people over the two days. This was BTS' first return to Busan since their 2022 'Yet To Come in Busan' performance.
Bias read (Center): The article focuses on a cultural event involving a popular K-pop group and does not present any political viewpoints, arguments, or biased language. It simply reports on the event's details and attendance figures without taking a stance or emphasizing any particular perspective.
The Korea HeraldIndependentCenter8 days ago Hybe apologizes for delay on 1st night of BTS world tour in BusanHybe Co., the management company for K-pop group BTS, apologized for a more than one-hour delay in the first night of the group's 'Arirang' world tour in Busan. The apology was made through the company's fan platform, Weverse, where they expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to attendees and committed to improving on-site operations to avoid similar issues in future events.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a corporate apology related to event logistics without taking a stance on any political issue. It presents factual information about the delay and the company's response without biased language or selective sourcing.
Official sources cited
- organisation Notice on Weverse
The Korea HeraldIndependentCenter9 days ago BTS buses, blimp set Busan concert opening abuzzBusan experienced high excitement on Friday as fans gathered for the start of BTS' two-day 'Arirang' world tour concert at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium. Themed displays such as a blimp and buses decorated with images of the group's members were part of the event. BTS expressed happiness at reuniting with their global fanbase, known as Army, in South Korea.
Bias read (Center): The article focuses on a cultural event involving a popular K-pop group and does not present any political content or controversial issues. It provides a neutral description of the event without apparent bias or ideological framing.
The Korea HeraldIndependentCenter11 days ago With temples, churches, citizens and city officials pitching in, Busan braces for BTS’ homecomingBusan is preparing for a major event as BTS performs at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium on June 12 and 13. The city has launched 'BTS The City Arirang,' a citywide tourism initiative from June 5 to 21 featuring exhibitions, fan experiences, cultural programs, and special events. Officials anticipate around 100,000 visitors and describe the efforts as transforming the entire city into a festival.
Bias read (Center): The article focuses on cultural events and tourism related to BTS, which is a non-political topic. It provides factual information about preparations and does not exhibit any ideological framing or bias.
Official sources cited
- organisation BTS The City Arirang Initiative
The Korea HeraldIndependentCenter11 days ago Why BTS is celebrating 13th anniversary in BusanBTS is set to perform in Busan to celebrate their 13th anniversary, marking a significant milestone for the group and their fans. This event holds particular importance as it follows their 2022 'Yet To Come in Busan' concert, which was seen as the end of an era before the members began their mandatory military service. The return to Busan is viewed by some as a symbolic new beginning for the group.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about BTS's upcoming anniversary concert in Busan without taking a political stance or showing bias toward any particular ideology. It focuses on cultural and historical significance rather than political commentary.
The Korea HeraldIndependentCenter13 days ago Busan subway station gets BTS makeover from fansSubway stations in Busan, South Korea, have been decorated with BTS-themed imagery as part of preparations for the K-pop group's upcoming concerts. Sports Complex Station, near the venue for the concerts, features large photos of BTS members, including Jimin and Jungkook, who are from Busan. The decorations, funded by fans, include 250 meters of images and messages on platform screens and digital displays. The city expects around 100,000 visitors and has increased subway services to accommodate the crowd.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a cultural event involving a popular K-pop group and infrastructure changes related to a public event. There is no political framing, ideological emphasis, or biased language. The content is neutral and descriptive of the event and its logistical implications.
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