Busan city officials have launched an urgent inquiry into a local lodging operator following a serious complaint from a Japanese BTS fan. The fan alleged that the business responded with abusive and profane language when she inquired about her reservation details ahead of BTS’ highly anticipated concerts in the city.
The incident, detailed in a social media post uploaded on Wednesday, describes the fan’s attempt to contact a Busan accommodation provider. She sought clarification on check-in procedures, elevator access, and the possibility of automatic reservation cancellation. Instead of receiving assistance, the lodging staff member reportedly replied with derogatory remarks and instructed the guest to cancel her booking, as evidenced by shared screenshots online.
After this distressing experience, the fan secured alternative accommodation and has reportedly escalated the matter to the booking platform.
As these posts rapidly gained traction online, Busan city authorities confirmed they have initiated an investigation into the matter, including efforts to identify the specific lodging establishment involved.
This particular incident unfolds amidst a rapidly escalating controversy surrounding accommodation practices in Busan, particularly concerning hotels and lodging ahead of BTS’ “Arirang” concerts scheduled for Friday and Saturday. The global phenomenon of BTS concerts often drives significant tourism, but also highlights vulnerabilities in local service provisions.
Data released Thursday by the Korea Tourism Organization’s Tourism Data Lab underscores the severity of the situation. In May alone, Busan was the source of 185 out of 368 tourism-related complaints filed nationwide, accounting for over half of all grievances. A significant portion – more than 80 percent – of these complaints came from foreign visitors, predominantly concerning accommodation issues such as unilateral reservation cancellations and exorbitant cancellation fees.
Concerns over surging Busan lodging prices have also reached a fever pitch in recent weeks. Reports indicate extreme cases of price gouging, with a room at a property near Gwangalli Beach recently listed on a global booking platform for over 8 million won ($5,242) per night during the BTS concert weekend. This staggering price is approximately 34 times higher than its listed rate just one week later.
The Busan Metropolitan Government has publicly vowed to adopt a firm stance against unfair accommodation practices targeting concert-goers and tourists. The city also confirmed its active assistance with ongoing police investigations into allegations that some operators have been canceling existing, lower-priced reservations only to re-list and resell rooms at significantly inflated rates.
