Ahead of the BTS comeback concert scheduled for the evening of the 21st at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, instances of nearby businesses mandating employees to take leave have surfaced. Affected workers reported that their companies unexpectedly required them to take half-days off due to the concert's operations. This prompted a response from the Ministry of Employment and Labor, asserting that forcing employees to take leave is illegal. Furthermore, the labor advocacy group, 직장갑질119, highlighted that they have received complaints regarding these practices, underlining the potential legal issues surrounding mandatory annual leave in light of a specific event.

During the lead-up to the concert, multiple employees voiced grievances on social media, sharing experiences of being coerced into taking annual leave when their companies were situated close to the concert venue. One individual noted that their friend, who works in a building directly linked to the performance, was instructed to take forced leave, igniting frustration due to the lack of accommodations, such as remote work options. The advocacy group clarified that the timing of annual leave should ideally be determined by the employee according to labor laws, which protect workers from being forced to take leave on specific dates due to company policies.

Even businesses with fewer than five employees, typically exempt from such regulations, are still bound by the stipulations outlined in employment contracts concerning leave. If businesses near the concert venue decide to close temporarily due to logistical challenges related to safety or transportation, they are required by law to compensate workers with partial wages during the time they cannot work, reinforcing the protections afforded to employees by the Labor Standards Act. The situation raises important questions about workers' rights in relation to event-induced workplace changes and highlights the necessity for clear policies and adherence to labor laws.