BTS’s Gwanghwamun Comeback Concert Causes Complete Bookings at Nearby Hotels and Restaurants

As BTS has decided to hold a Comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square on the 21st of next month, the surrounding commercial areas are in turmoil. The news of BTS’s free concert, which attracts a global Fandom, has led to an overwhelming influx of reservation inquiries for accommodations and restaurants in the Gwanghwamun area. BTS’s Comeback concert is scheduled to take place at Gwanghwamun Square at 8 p.m. on the 21st of next month. The police estimate that up to 260,000 people will gather at Gwanghwamun Square on that day, given BTS’s global following and the fact that the concert is free. Premium hotels in the Gwanghwamun vicinity have already seen all bookings for that period filled up. The Four Seasons Hotel, which offers a panoramic view of Gwanghwamun Square, has no available rooms before or after the concert, while Shilla Stay Gwanghwamun is unavailable from the 20th to the 22nd of next month. Lotte Hotel Seoul in Sogong-dong, Seoul, The Plaza Seoul near Seoul City Hall, and Westin Chosun Hotel also have all room bookings filled for the same period. An industry insider said, “Reservations for hotels surged as soon as word spread that BTS would hold a free Comeback concert,” adding that booking rates for hotels across Seoul increased overall during that time, not just those near Gwanghwamun Square. Restaurants in the Gwanghwamun area are also facing a surge in reservation requests. Even though there is still over a month left until the concert, inquiries for evening reservations are on the rise. A franchise owner near Gwanghwamun said, “With hundreds of thousands of people expected to gather on that day, some customers are already asking for reservations.” However, he added that safety concerns due to the large crowd are a concern.