Seventy percent of guests at one of Busan's most prestigious hotels are now foreign tourists — and every single one of them is there for BTS.
With the K-pop supergroup's highly anticipated Busan concerts just days away, the southeastern port city is experiencing a tourism boom of staggering proportions, while back online, the boys are already tugging at heartstrings with their 13th anniversary celebrations.
Busan Books Out as the World Descends
The numbers are nothing short of extraordinary. Hanwha Hotels & Resorts has reported that foreign tourists now account for 42 per cent of rooms booked at its Matie Osiria hotel in Busan for the concert weekend of 12 to 13 June — compared to just 0.2 per cent during the same period last year. That is not a typo. Foreign bookings for the entire month of June have increased tenfold year on year.
Meanwhile, over at Paradise Hotel Busan, another of the city's luxury properties, more than 90 per cent of rooms have already been snapped up for the concert dates, with international fans making up seven in ten guests.
"The Busan performances are not just concerts but a citywide tourism event. As overseas fans visiting Busan for the concerts enjoy accommodation, shopping and tourism, the event is expected to have a positive impact on the regional economy."
Industry insiders are clearly thrilled, and it is easy to see why. The ARMY — BTS's formidably devoted global fanbase — has long been known for their willingness to travel across continents for their favourite group, and this latest wave of bookings proves that reputation is thoroughly deserved.
RM's Emotional 'Normal Log' Leaves ARMYs Reaching for the Tissues
While fans are busy booking flights and packing their bags, BTS have been marking their 13th anniversary in true heartfelt fashion. As part of BTS FESTA 2026, leader and rapper RM has released a deeply personal video titled Normal Log, shared via the group's Weverse channel.
The clip, which dropped ahead of the anniversary festivities, has sent ARMYs into an emotional spiral — fans across social media have been reporting that RM's candid and moving dedication left them in tears. It is exactly the kind of raw, reflective moment that has kept BTS at the very top of the global music conversation for well over a decade.
The anniversary milestone is also being marked with the release of limited-edition vinyl, a collector's dream that is certain to send demand through the roof amongst the group's millions of dedicated followers worldwide.
Thirteen Years and Still Going Strong
It is worth pausing to take in quite how remarkable BTS's journey has been. Thirteen years since their debut, the group are commanding hotel sell-outs across an entire South Korean city, moving fans to tears with anniversary content, and releasing limited-edition merchandise that will no doubt vanish within minutes of going on sale.
The Busan concerts on 12 and 13 June are shaping up to be far more than a pair of gigs — they are a full-scale cultural event that is putting the city on the world map in a way that no conventional tourism campaign ever could. For a group that has spent years proving that K-pop is a genuinely global phenomenon, this feels like yet another landmark moment — and judging by the hotel booking figures alone, the world is very much paying attention.
