The Jogye Gate at Beomeosa Temple in Busan. The temple is known for its foreign visitor temple stay program and was previously visited by actor Chris Hemsworth during a documentary shoot. Photo by Asia Today
May 25 (Asia Today) -- Buddhist temples in South Korea's southeastern region are opening temple stay facilities to help accommodate foreign fans traveling to Busan for upcoming concerts by K-pop group BTS amid severe lodging shortages and complaints over soaring hotel prices.
The Korean Buddhism Culture Corps said Sunday that temple stay-operating temples in Busan and South Gyeongsang Province will provide lodging support for tourists visiting Busan for the "BTS World Tour Arirang in Busan" concerts scheduled for June 12-13.
Public concern has grown over accommodation costs ahead of the concerts as demand from domestic and overseas fans surged.
According to a February survey conducted by South Korea's Fair Trade Commission and the Korea Consumer Agency covering 135 hotels and lodging facilities in Busan, average room rates during the concert weekend rose about 2.4 times compared with the weekends before and after the event.
