BIGHIT MUSIC issued an official statement regarding the location change in BTS’ upcoming Busan concert 2030 World Expo.
BTS has changed the location of a free in-person concert next month in Busan to promote South Korea’s bid for World Expo 2030. With an in-person audience, International BTS fans can watch the concert for free worldwide via Weverse live stream and live play. The concert, titled ‘BTS Yet to Come in BUSAN,’ was supposed to take place on October 15 at the Busan Ilgwang special stage in Gijang-gun, but it has been moved to Asiad Main Stadium.
The decision to change the venue comes after several people expressed concerns about holding a large concert in Busan. The event is expected to draw 110,000 people, making it the largest single concert ever held in the city. A total of 100,000 people were expected to attend the concert in Gijang-gun, with the remaining 10,000 able to watch a live broadcast of the event at the Busan Port International Passenger Terminal.
The large number of attendees raised concerns about the availability of accommodation in Busan, as almost all of the rooms in Gijanh-gun and nearby areas were sold out immediately, according to local media reports. Hoteliers raised the prices of remaining rooms, and some cancelled existing reservations in order to sell them at higher prices. There was also concern about the audience’s safety and traffic management. According to reports, the venue itself will not be able to accommodate 100,000 people. Furthermore, there is only one gate that leads in and out of it.
“In line with the purpose of this performance, Ilgwang was originally selected as the venue for the performance after reviewing various places in Busan from various angles,” a representative from the agency said. We were meticulously preparing in terms of operation in collaboration with various organisations such as the Busan Metropolitan City, the police, the fire department, and the Korea Railroad Corporation, so that there would be no inconvenience to the audience.”
In the midst of these concerns, BTS’s agency BIGHIT Music announced on Friday that the concert location has been changed to Asiad Main Stadium. “Our decision to change the location of the concert was made in an effort to ensure that the focus remains on the performance’s main purpose, which is to promote the bid for the 2030 Busan World Expo,” an excerpt from the statement read.
“Our top priority is to preserve the main purpose of the concert and for the audience to have a smooth, enjoyable, and accessible viewing experience,” the statement continued. It also stated that “other concert-related events will take place as planned.”
In July, the seven-member group, comprised of RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, was named an official ambassador for South Korea’s bid for the World Expo 2030. Expo 2030 is a proposed world fair for 2030. The event has been bid on by Russia, South Korea, Italy, Ukraine, and Saudi Arabia. BTS has been heavily involved in promotional activities for their country’s bid.
