BTS and HYBE Face Busan’s Broken Promise Amid Intense Public Pressure

BTS is facing backlash after Busan City’s plan to assign civil servants to their upcoming concert sparked public outrage.

The controversy began when an anonymous post on Blind revealed that about 915 civil servants were set to be deployed for the event. The post, written by a civil servant, questioned why public workers were assigned to a commercial concert hosted by HYBE instead of event staff hired by the organizers.

Fans quickly reacted online, with opinions divided. Some argued BTS concerts boost tourism and the local economy, justifying city support. However, most criticized the use of public employees for crowd control and safety at a profit-driven event.

As the situation unfolded, Busan City confirmed it would scrap the original plan to use civil servants. Instead, they will recruit volunteers to handle on-site support during the concert.

The civil servants initially assigned were planned to handle traffic control and public order maintenance around Sajik Stadium on the day of the concert. However, after the controversy emerged, we held internal discussions and decided to withdraw the plan.

Instead, we are currently accepting volunteer applications for that day, and the exact number of personnel and assignments will be finalized on the 10th. Even if the number of staff ends up lower than originally planned, we will place personnel where needed to ensure maximum public safety.

— Busan City via Kookje

This isn’t the first time BTS concerts have stirred debate over public resources. Earlier this year, a similar controversy arose in Seoul regarding the use of civil servants for their comeback concert.

Busan City’s move to rely on volunteers aims to balance public safety with concerns over civil servant involvement as BTS prepares for their highly anticipated show.