The moment news broke that BTS would bring their world tour to Busan, local hotels went into overdrive. Rooms near the area sold out in a flash, and some properties reportedly listed rates at double — or even more — compared to usual pricing.
BigHit Music revealed the world tour schedule and official poster on the 14th via the fan platform. According to the announcement, BTS will kick off in Goyang on April 9 and 11–12 before launching into the main tour. The North American leg starts April 25–26 in Tampa, Florida, with 28 shows across 12 cities. In Europe, they will perform in five cities including London and Paris, and in South America, five cities including São Paulo and Buenos Aires.
Notably, the Busan dates are set for June 12–13.
While the exact venue has yet to be announced, online inventory for Busan hotels vanished almost immediately after the news. As booking competition intensified, some accommodations also began posting what locals call 'price-gouging' rates. For example, a deluxe double room at a top-tier hotel on the BTS concert dates was listed at 785,000 won — more than twice the 298,000 won rate from the week prior — sparking buzz.
Another netizen shared a booking scheduler screenshot showing a staggering "1,489,000 won per night" for June 12 and 13. Considering the usual rate is 99,000–119,000 won, prices during the BTS dates have shot up by more than tenfold.
This isn't new. Back in 2022, when BTS held a free concert to support Busan's World Expo bid, 'price-gouging' became a major controversy. In response, the Busan city government opened a lodging price reporting center on its website and conducted joint on-site inspections, demanding corrective measures. Although the uproar happened nearly four years ago, the same issue appears to be repeating, even before the specific venue has been revealed — raising early concerns.
Meanwhile, ahead of the world tour, BTS will release their fifth full-length album with 14 tracks on March 20. It marks their first full-group comeback in about three years and nine months, drawing intense attention from ARMYs worldwide.