Busan Offers Free and Low-Cost Stays to BTS Fans Amid Soaring Hotel Prices
As BTS prepares for their upcoming concerts in Busan, a growing number of religious groups, universities, and public institutions in the city are actively joining a “fair lodging” campaign. This initiative aims to provide free or low-cost accommodation to fans, addressing concerns over the sharply increasing hotel prices in Busan.
According to the Busan Metropolitan Government, this campaign was launched after widespread reports highlighted the significant surge in accommodation costs specifically around the BTS concert period.
Key participants in this effort include renowned temples like Beomeosa, Hongbeopsa, and Seonamsa, all offering complimentary temple stay programs for concertgoers.
Several local churches have also stepped up, including Suyeongro Church, Bujeon Church, Podowon Church, Gimhae Jungang Church, Segyero Church, Moriah Church, and Geoje Church. They are joined by the Catholic retreat center Pureun Namu Education Center, expanding the range of affordable lodging options in Busan.
Furthermore, universities such as Pusan National University, Pukyong National University, and Kosin University are providing crucial lodging support. Public institutions like the Korea Railroad Research Institute and the Arpina youth hostel are also contributing to the initiative, ensuring diverse and budget-friendly stays for fans visiting Busan.
The city government reports that the campaign has successfully secured over 100 rooms, capable of accommodating more than 400 people. Many of these stays are offered entirely free of charge, while others are capped at a maximum of 131,000 won per night.
More businesses are anticipated to join the campaign, including prominent hotels like Paradise Hotel Busan and Fairfield by Marriott Busan Songdo Beach. These hotels plan to sell any canceled rooms at their standard listed prices, offering additional opportunities for fans to find reasonable hotel accommodation in Busan.
The issue of inflated lodging prices for the BTS concert in Busan also caught the attention of the band members themselves.
During a recent livestream on the fan platform Weverse, BTS leader RM directly addressed the controversy.
“There’s been a lot of news about accommodation problems in Busan,” he stated. “Even if we want to solve it ourselves, there’s only so much we can do. Of course, prices can change depending on peak seasons, but I hope we can keep things reasonable.”
Jimin, a native of Busan, echoed this sentiment, expressing his disappointment and hoping that “fans leave Busan with only good memories when they visit.”
A joint investigation conducted by the Korea Consumer Agency and the Fair Trade Commission revealed staggering figures: the average one-night accommodation price in Busan during the BTS concert weekend of June 13-14 surged to 433,999 won ($289). This represents an approximate 2.4-fold increase compared to surrounding weekends. Motel prices showed the most dramatic hike, averaging 325,801 won—about 3.3 times their usual rate, highlighting the urgent need for affordable stays in Busan for concert attendees.
