Unannounced Hotel Inspections in Seoul Ahead of BTS Concert
Seoul City conducted an unannounced inspection of 83 hotels located near Gwanghwamun Square, just ahead of the scheduled comeback concert by the global music group BTS. The inspections revealed that 18 (22%) of these establishments were operating illegally. Among the violations, several failed to display price lists as required by the Public Health Management Act. According to regulations, hotels must post price lists and business registration certificates in their lobbies to prevent “exorbitant pricing” during high-demand periods.
A representative from the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Civil and Criminal Police Bureau stated, “The 18 identified hotels will be formally charged, and we will investigate the specifics.” Depending on the findings, the city plans to request relevant districts to impose penalties such as business suspensions. Most of the hotel owners reportedly claimed, “We were unaware” or “We forgot” about the requirements.
The inspection focused exclusively on hotels and tourist hotels, excluding motels. Seoul City confirmed that none of the 18 penalized hotels were five-star establishments. This indicates that the enforcement efforts are targeting smaller, less-regulated accommodations rather than luxury properties.
Concerns Over Illegal Activities and Crowd Management
The unannounced inspections were carried out due to concerns over potential illegal activities, including excessive pricing, amid the expected influx of fans. Police anticipate that around 230,000 people will gather around Gwanghwamun Square on the day of the concert. All five-star hotels within a 1 km radius of the square are already fully booked for the event.
According to data from the accommodation app Yogiyo, reservations for lodging near Gwanghwamun Square from the 20th to the 21st surged to 5.5 times the volume of the same period last year. This surge has raised concerns among authorities about the possibility of large numbers of attendees sleeping rough near the area.
To address these concerns, Seoul City is accepting citizen reports via its website and the “Seoul Smart Complaint Reporting” app. Additionally, listing officetels on the shared accommodation app Airbnb is considered illegal. A city official mentioned that reporters may receive a maximum reward of 200 million Korean won, which represents the highest reward Seoul City can offer.
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