Gov't vows to tackle tourist overcharging ahead of BTS concert in Busan

The government plans to take stern measures against attempts to overcharge tourists at major travel destinations, the finance ministry said Thursday, amid concerns over price gouging by accommodations in Busan ahead of K-pop megagroup BTS' concerts. The Ministry of Finance and Economy made the announcement during a task force meeting with relevant ministries amid concerns that some hotels in the southeastern port city of Busan are excessively overcharging visitors ahead of the much anticipated event set for next month. "During the meeting, participants discussed measures to root out unfair activities, such as canceling reservations, charging excessive prices and failing to comply with posted rates," the ministry said in a release. The government said it will secure alternative rooms in neighboring cities by utilizing universities, religious facilities and publicly operated dormitories to offer budget or free accommodations in line with the concerts, with the information set to be posted on Busan's official tourism website. In early June, a joint government investigation team, including officials from the antitrust watchdog and the tax agency, plans to conduct on-site inspections to tackle excessive price hikes and take measures, such as suspending business operations, when violations are found. The Busan city government also plans to carry out inspections at major tourist spots in the city. The finance ministry advised travelers to report unfair booking cancellations or unreasonable additional charges imposed by accommodations to authorities. The group is set to perform in the city June 12-13. On Wednesday, President Lee Jae Myung warned that such overcharging would "significantly damage the image of Busan as a whole."