"Report Price Gouging Immediately"... Busan Steps Up Inspections Ahead of BTS World Tour

[Financial News] The Busan Metropolitan City Government announced on the 17th that, with the first BTS (Bangtan Boys) world tour in four years scheduled to take place, it is continuing to accept online reports and carry out on-site inspections through its Price Gouging QR Reporting System (photo) in order to prevent unfair trade practices by local lodging businesses.
This system allows domestic and international tourists to scan a QR code and immediately report any price gouging.
Reports are forwarded via the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) to the relevant authorities, such as the local governments with jurisdiction and related agencies.
The system has been operated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) since October last year and is currently posted as a notification banner on the city’s official website. In November last year, the city distributed promotional stickers and posters featuring the QR code and has been actively promoting the system through district and county offices and the Busan Tourism Association.
Starting next week, joint inspection teams from the city and district and county offices will visit lodging establishments that have been reported online to conduct on-site checks, verify compliance with business obligations, and issue guidance or corrective measures.
Currently, district and county offices are already conducting frequent guidance and inspections of tourist accommodation facilities. Unfair practices such as charging unjustified fees or failing to honor reservation conditions are also reflected in the hotel rating system.
Going forward, the city plans to convene a Tourism Readiness Inspection Meeting with the participation of relevant organizations to discuss in depth fundamental measures to address excessive hikes in accommodation prices.
In addition, once the venue for the upcoming concert is finalized, the city plans to use its official social networking service (SNS) channels and other means to provide information on areas with a high concentration of accommodations that offer good public transportation access to the concert site, in order to disperse concentrated bookings at nearby lodging facilities.
lich0929@fnnews.com Byun Ok-hwan Reporter