BTS Busan Concert Hotel Price Hike: Band Speaks Up, Govt. Steps In

Highlights

• Busan hotel and Airbnb prices rose ahead of BTS’ ARIRANG concerts, pushing many fans to stay outside the city instead.
• BTS members RM, Jimin, and Suga addressed the stay crisis as President Lee Jae Myung ordered action against price gouging.
• Temples, churches, and universities provided affordable stays for BTS fans, but many sold out immediately due to overwhelming demand.

When BTS announced its ARIRANG world tour concerts for June 12 and 13 in the southeastern port city of Busan, the event projected an influx of global visitors for what is both the group's comeback year and its 13th debut anniversary. However, what came after was a scramble for accommodations due to canceled reservations, and a crisis that has now reached the president's desk.

Speaking of the issue, Eunice, a 28-year-old teacher from the Philippines, said to The Korea Times, “The prices are obscenely high. The way Busan accommodations have been acting makes me wish my favorite group could just avoid the city next time — which is unfair, because I'm sure Busan is a great place.”

Eunice ultimately had to book a hotel in Ulsan, a region to the northeast of Busan, after observing that prices for an Airbnb she wanted jumped tenfold. On the other hand, Verena Thiel, a German student based in South Korea, stayed in Busan, but paid ₩467,00 (~ $311 USD) for a room which is normally priced at ₩77,000 (~ $51.2) a night. Reportedly, such prices were among the cheaper options available in the city for those unwilling to procure lodging outside of the main city. Hotel rooms, she noted, ran up to ₩1 million (~ $665).

BTS Members Address Busan Hotel Price Gouging Crisis Amidst Govt. Intervention

The BTS members also spoke up on the issue. During a Weverse livestream on Tuesday (May 26, 2026), leader RM said, “Even if we want to solve it ourselves, there's only so much we can do.” He urged in Busan dialect to “not overdo it.” Jimin, a Busan native, said he hoped “fans leave Busan with only good memories.” He, along with rapper-song producer Suga, noted that even their own relatives were struggling to find accommodations.

With such inflating trends on the rise, the government has been moving swiftly. South Korea’s Finance Ministry announced via a press release that they will “root out unfair activities, such as canceling reservations, charging excessive prices and failing to comply with posted rates.” Notably, this would be a joint effort alongside other relevant ministries.

BTS Jimin and Jungkook's mural in Busan city, South Korea

A task force meeting conducted by the Finance Ministry decided that a joint inspection, including officials from the antitrust watchdog and the tax agency, will be conducting on-site checks in early June. Reportedly, business suspension is listed among the potential penalties, if entities are found to be making unauthorized moves. On May 27, 2026, the Korea JoongAng Daily noted that President Lee Jae Myung highlighted that the overcharging and price gouging trends could “significantly damage the image of Busan as a whole.”

Temples, Churches and Universities Open Affordable Stays for BTS Fans

To fill the gap, various religious institutions and universities have come forward to provide a “fair lodging” to the incoming tourists. Popular Buddhist temples like Beomeosa, Hongbeopsa, and Seonamsa, are offering free and budget friendly stays. Seven churches, including Suyeongro, Bujeon, and Moriah, along with the Catholic retreat center Pureun Namu Education Center, have also joined them. Notably, Pusan National University, Pukyong National University, and Kosin University, are also offering lodging support, with public institutions such as the Korea Railroad Research Institute and the Arpina youth hostel also opening their doors to people.

The Busan Metropolitan Government also told The Korea Herald that over 100 rooms accommodated over 400 people, with many free of charge and others rounding off at ₩131,000 (~ $87) per night. Paradise Hotel Busan and Fairfield by Marriott Busan Songdo Beach have also agreed to offer any canceled rooms at standard listed prices.

The demand is so high that even these affordable stays are getting filled up. One fan said to The Korea Times that she was unable to reserve a seat in temple stays or youth centers since they sold out immediately. The alternative accommodation push came, but a little too late. This is notably BTS' third Busan event since their fan meeting in 2019 and a concert in 2022. As global fans arrive to experience BTS in Jimin and Jungkook’s hometown, the authorities are ramping up efforts to stop all things that result in a critical image of the port city.