Seoul: Tickets for the long-awaited comeback concert by BTS in central Seoul were snapped up almost instantly, as authorities predicted that as many as 260,000 fans could descend on the capital for the group’s first full-scale performance in nearly four years.
When ticket sales opened at 8 pm for the free March 21 concert at Gwanghwamun Square, more than 100,000 users surged onto the booking website at once, causing screens to crash and reservation systems to freeze. Around 15,000 tickets for the performance at the historic plaza in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace were gone within moments.
To improve their chances, fans flocked to PC cafes, internet gaming centres known for faster connections and a key part of South Korea’s ticketing culture. Online forums quickly filled with stories of families deploying multiple devices simultaneously, only to see screens freeze or messages appear stating that seats had already been taken.
Earlier in the day, Seoul Police issued fraud warnings as scam posts began circulating ahead of the evening sale. The city’s police chief, Park Jeong-bo, said officers had requested the removal of 34 posts advertising proxy ticket purchases for fees ranging from 10,000 to 300,000 won ($7–$200; £5–£155), or claiming tickets could be resold for between 100,000 and 1.2 million won.
Police said they would treat Gwanghwamun as a virtual stadium, managing crowd movement through 29 designated entry points. Authorities also warned of likely disruptions to nearby metro stations and surrounding roads.
The one-hour concert will launch BTS’s new album, Arirang, and precede their 82-date world tour. The performance will be streamed live on Netflix in 190 countries. Separately, the Seoul city government will host additional fan events near the venue, expected to draw about 30,000 people.
The event has already pushed up accommodation prices across central Seoul, with some hotels reportedly charging up to five times their usual rates. South Korea’s president, Lee Jae Myung, condemned what he described as “unscrupulous abuse that destroys the order of the entire market and causes great harm to everyone,” adding that penalties should far exceed any illicit gains.
Anti-scalping legislation passed in January allows authorities to impose fines of up to 50 times the original ticket price for unlawful resales. Analysts say the group’s return has reinvigorated what has been dubbed ‘BTS-nomics,’ the substantial economic impact generated by BTS across tourism, hospitality, and retail sectors.
Meanwhile, the Sejong Arts Center, located next to Gwanghwamun Square, has cancelled all performances scheduled for 21 March, and the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History will close for the day.
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