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Busan Transforms City into Tourism Festival Ahead of BTS Concerts
Ahead of BTS's concerts on June 12 and 13, Busan expects around 100,000 visitors. Temples, churches, universities, and municipal units are preparing with suitable accommodations and events.
Busan is conducting extensive preparations ahead of BTS's concerts on June 12 and 13 at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium. Authorities in South Korea's second-largest city expect about 100,000 visitors from around the world due to the events.
The preparations are part of a city-wide tourism program called "BTS The City Arirang," running from June 5 to 21. The program includes exhibitions, fan meetings, cultural events, and special activities spread across various parts of the city.
Kim Dong-hoon, Director of Busan Municipality's Tourism Policy Department, said they have turned the entire city into a festival ground. Officials emphasize that the concert weekend is not just a music event but also a significant opportunity to showcase Busan's tourism.
Following the announcement of the concerts, reactions to accommodation prices in the city also emerged. Some lodging listings were unusually raised for the concert period, leading to criticism and discussions about Busan's image among international visitors.
Monk Jang San, who runs the templestay program at Beomeosa Temple, explained that they have been discussing and seeking solutions to the accommodation crisis for several months. The temple joined the effort by offering free lodging to foreign fans, although capacity is limited to about 20 people per night.
Following this step, other temples, churches, universities, public institutions, and civil organizations also got involved. Busan's "Fair Accommodation" campaign expanded citywide to provide more affordable lodging options.
Jang San noted that while financial competition has increased in Korean society, the culture of solidarity remains strong in difficult times. Kim Dong-hoon added that this response has strengthened the approach they call the "Busan spirit."
The city administration aims for visitors to experience Busan beyond the concert itself. Kim expressed hope that attendees leave with good memories and want to return to Busan.
The connection between BTS and Busan adds special meaning to the preparations. Two of the group's seven members, Jimin and Jungkook, were born in Busan, heightening excitement in the city.
Fans visit places linked to the childhood and youth of these two artists. Jimin's father's café, Z-Millennial, has become one of the notable stops in the city.
However, the scale of the preparations has sparked debate in the city. On the anonymous work app Blind, some public employees questioned the allocation of significant time and resources by municipal staff for a private entertainment event.
Labor unions also criticized initial duty plans, arguing that public resources should not be disproportionately used to support a commercial concert. The city administration responded by stating that coordination is necessary for security, transportation hubs, and crowded gathering areas, and shifted the system to voluntary participation.
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