Seoul Police Flag Proxy Scams Ahead of BTS Gwanghwamun Show

• The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency reinforced fraud controls after BTS' free event at Gwanghwamun Square sold out instantly.
• Over 100,000 fans crowded the booking page, prompting macro warnings from authorities.
• Despite only 15,000 seats, officials estimate the concert could draw almost 260,000 visitors to central Seoul.

Seoul police have stepped up fraud warnings and ticket-scam surveillance as millions of fans worldwide compete for seats at BTS' free concert, slated for March 21, 2026, at Gwanghwamun Square. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said it is actively tracking and removing dubious proxy-ticketing posts, urging fans to use only official channels amid rising demand and resale schemes that have drawn new legislative scrutiny.

Authorities have demanded the removal of 34 online listings for "proxy booking" services and flagged resale posts totaling up to 1.2 million won (~$830.50). Because official reservations require strict identity verification, police warn that sharing account credentials with these services increases the risk of identity theft and financial fraud.

BTS Gwanghwamun Concert Sparks Ticket Frenzy

Reservations for the one-hour free concert opened at 8 p.m. KST on Feb. 23 through the NOL Ticket platform, plunging more than 100,000 people into a virtual queue. All 15,000 formally allocated seats sold out within minutes, prompting Seoul officials to estimate that total attendance at Gwanghwamun Square could reach 260,000 on the day of the event.

BigHit Music issued a stern warning against auto-programs and ticketing macros, saying such automation will trigger immediate reservation cancellations and possible legal penalties. The concert, which coincides with the release of BTS' fifth full-length album, Arirang, on March 20, will be live-streamed on Netflix in over 190 countries. The album has already crossed 3 million Spotify pre-saves ahead of its release.

BigHit Music has issued a severe warning against using auto-programs or ticketing macros, stressing that such automation will result in rapid reservation cancellations and possible legal fines. The next event, which coincides with the release of BTS' fifth full-length album, Arirang, on March 20, will be live streamed on Netflix in over 190 countries.

BTS Effect: K-Pop Economy Surge Meets Seoul Security Stress Test

BTS' comeback is delivering a measurable jolt to South Korea's tourism, hotel, and retail sectors. Hotel rates in central Seoul have climbed to 1 million won (~$691.23) per night ahead of the concert, pushing the government to crack down on price gouging. Similar spikes are expected for the group's summer tour dates in Busan, where lodging costs have already risen to more than 3.5 times standard weekend rates. International demand has been strong enough that Mexico has formally requested additional shows, underscoring the tour's global footprint.

For crowd safety, authorities are deploying 29 designated entry points and a phased traffic-restriction plan around the square. These measures are designed to manage the flow of tens of thousands of concertgoers expected beyond the ticketed area.

The Gwanghwamun show amounts to a large-scale stress test for Seoul's urban and digital infrastructure. With the Arirang era now in motion, the outcome will hinge on whether the city's security and economic safeguards can keep pace with the scale of BTS' return.