Busan temples offer lodging for fans coming to attend BTS concerts

Buddhist temples in Busan and surrounding regions will open their doors to fans of K-pop supergroup BTS, offering accommodation for those coming to attend the group's world tour concerts in South Korea's southeastern city next month, organizers said. The move comes after the concerts scheduled for June 12-13 triggered an early surge in accommodation prices in Busan, some 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul, stoking anger among fans over "rip-off" room rates. According to the Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism on Friday, temples participating in the program include Beomeo Temple, Naewonjeong Temple, Hongbeop Temple and Seonam Temple in Busan; Seongju Temple and Daegwang Temple in nearby Changwon; Tongdo Temple in Yangsan; and Pyochung Temple in Miryang. The temples will make temple-stay quarters and other available spaces accessible to visitors around the concert dates free of charge or at budget prices. In addition to lodging, some locations plan to provide visitors with meals and an opportunity to experience traditional Korean culture and Buddhist practices. Organizers are also considering interpretation support to assist foreign visitors. Participants will be required to observe temple rules, including designated check-in and check-out times and guidelines for communal living, as the temples are primarily for monastics. "The BTS concerts in Busan are a major cultural attraction for fans from around the world," the Cultural Corps said in a statement. "We hope to share the spirit of generosity and hospitality embodied by temples, and help visitors leave Busan with warm memories."