- BTS tour dates result in accommodation cancellations and rising rates in Busan and Seoul.
- Authorities responded by checking hotels while promising incentives for housing facilities for being “price-friendly.”
- The rise in demand ahead of BTS World Tour 2026 highlights the need for increased local lodging supplies and government intervention.
BTS' most anticipated comeback, the Arirang 2026 world tour dates have caused turmoil in South Korea's hospitality sector, particularly in Busan, with the city’s municipal government receiving over 90 official complaints this week, post the tour schedule announcement. The complaints allege that hotel providers targeted fans with unexpected booking cancellations and hefty room-rate increases prior to the group's June concerts. This demonstrates the increasing pressure between the K-pop band's demand shock and local housing capacity.
BTS Busan Shows Trigger Mass Hotel Cancellations and Price Gouging
BTS' June 12-13 Busan concerts have already disrupted fans' travel plans, with social media flooded with reports of confirmed hotel reservations being suddenly canceled and rooms getting re-listed at a price that is several times higher than their original one. As reported by Korea JoongAng Daily, one Daegu fan claimed they were persuaded to cancel a reservation because they suspected the property intended to resell it at an inflated price. "If nothing works out, I'll just sleep in my car," the fan said.
According to Korea JoongAng Daily, many standard lodgings for the concert dates are priced between 600,000 won (~ $416.10 USD) and 700,000 won (~ $485.45) per night, which is several times Busan's regular off-season rates. Notably, one guesthouse that cost around 70,000 won (~ $48.56) in February now advertises the same room for approximately 600,000 won (~ $416.10 USD) in June.
In Dongnae, a room posted at 68,000 won (~ $47.18) on June 10 increased to 769,000 won (~ $533.51) on June 12 and 13, while a stay in Gijang County increased from 99,000 won (~ $68.68) to 790,000 won (~ $548.15) during the same period. Even though the performance site has yet to be determined, accommodation prices throughout the city have risen considerably.
Busan officials said that the complaints came in through the Korea Tourism Organization's QR reporting system, which had been set up to flag possible unfair trade practices. As reported by Korean media, authorities are analyzing each instance and have launched inspection campaigns with district offices to verify booking discrepancies while enforcing operators to fulfill confirmed bookings.
Earlier on Jan 16, 2026, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung publicly criticized excessive lodging price increases in Busan following the release of BTS' world tour dates. He described them as "malicious exploitation that destroys order in the entire market and inflicts great harm on everyone," and emphasized that such actions "must be eradicated."
Seoul Lodging Rates Surge Ahead of BTS Gwanghwamun Concert
This phenomenon isn't limited to Busan. Lodging prices in Seoul have risen dramatically in the run-up to the March 21 Gwanghwamun Square BTS performance, with some hotels hiking weekend rates fivefold and motels raising regular fees by comparable margins.
Notably, the four-star Koreana Hotel near Gwanghwamun Station, which charged an average of 225,000 won (~ $156.20) for a Saturday-night stay in February, listed the same rooms for 1.35 million won (~ $937.19) on March 21. The President Hotel listed rooms for March 21 at 443,000 won (~ $307.54), which is double this Saturday's (Jan 24, 2026) pricing of 205,000 won (~ $142.32). Some hotels, including the five-star Four Seasons, have already sold out, despite having costs that are more than double those for standard weekends.
Accommodation in the Jongno and Jung areas is also largely booked, with several properties reporting high demand. On the night of the concert, a motel in Jongno hiked its typical Saturday rate from roughly 130,000 won (~ $90.27) to 480,000 won (~ $333.49), while another motel raised its usual 210,000 won (~ $145.90) room to 630,000 won (~ $437.70).
The increase in hotel demand reflects the broader enthusiasm surrounding BTS' reunion. According to Hotels.com data, searches for trips to Seoul increased by an estimated 155% following the global tour announcement. Additionally, searches in Busan increased even more dramatically.
Cities Scramble to Contain Price Spikes as Fan Influx Looms Ahead of BTS Arirang World Tour 2026
In response to this price spike tied to the BTS Arirang World Tour 2026, civic governments in both cities have begun to confront the impact. At the national level, central government ministries are examining more ways, apart from the existing ones, to reduce excessive pricing and strengthen consumer rights.
Authorities in Busan held a discussion with representatives from district governments, consumer groups, and the hospitality industry to propose remedies to the problem. This includes greater access to public lodging, incentives for "price-friendly" accommodations, and the brief utilization of university dormitories during periods of high demand. Currently, just five housing providers in the city are registered under this “price-friendly” program, which is titled as “Good Price.”
Contrastingly, Seoul has chosen a more cautious approach. Seoul's metropolitan administration has also begun inspecting properties in core districts to ensure compliance with publicly displayed pricing standards under the Public Health Control Act. Nevertheless, enforcement remains restricted in the absence of statutory price caps. A Seoul city official stated that negotiations on boosting assistance for "price-friendly" lodging providers are presently underway, but no plans have been finalized. Currently, just two such establishments exist in the Jongno District in Seoul.
An estimated 200,000 fans across the world are anticipated to converge in central Seoul for BTS's long-awaited homecoming, putting additional strain on already congested hotel markets. Guests who believe they have been overcharged can make a complaint via the Korea Tourism Organization's QR-based price-gouging reporting system. The debate highlights a larger economic reality that emphasizes BTS' Arirang world tour to be the primary driver of unprecedented worldwide travel demand, despite limited hotel supply, prompting more scrutiny from fans and regulators simultaneously.
