Travel
Scalped tickets and soaring accommodation rates stir outrage ahead of Busan’s fireworks festival
BeFM News
October 30, 2024
(Image: City of Busan)
Ahead of the 19th Busan Fireworks Festival scheduled for November 9, ticket scalping and marked-up prices at accommodations and restaurants have once again sparked controversy.
A quick search for “Busan Fireworks Festival” on a popular secondhand goods platform reveals numerous listings for resold tickets at inflated prices.
Tickets for “R Section,” originally sold by the Busan Cultural Tourism Festival Organization Committee for 100,000 won on their official website, are now being resold for anywhere from 200,000 to as much as 500,000 won.
Citizens are frustrated with price gouging, prompting some to file complaints with the Suyeong District Office. Busan City and the Cultural Tourism Festival Committee are inspecting accommodations citywide through November 8.
A city official noted that while there’s no legal basis for action if prices are posted in advance, they will urge businesses to avoid excessive pricing to protect Busan’s tourism image.