Kwon Young-guk, the leader of the Justice Party, has criticized the structural issues surrounding the upcoming BTS concert in Seoul, suggesting that the inconveniences faced by citizens are not matched by their share of the profits which are expected to flow to private corporations.
On the evening of the 21st, the highly anticipated BTS comeback concert is set to take place at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. Kwon Young-guk, the leader of the Justice Party, took to Facebook on the 19th to voice his concerns about the event. While he acknowledged the significance of promoting various aspects of South Korea and K-pop to the world through such performances, he expressed discontent with the excessive limitations being placed on normal citizens’ daily lives due to the concert preparations, which will begin on Saturday evening. Kwon highlighted instances where businesses were forced to make adjustments, such as employees being pressured to take annual leave, and the disruption to commercial activities in the area, including temporary closures of museums and delays in package deliveries in Jongno.
Kwon went on to emphasize that the profits generated, both directly and indirectly, from the concert are expected to concentrate in the hands of the organizing company, HYBE, and Netflix, which has secured exclusive live streaming rights. He raised the issue of access, questioning whether it is appropriate for a concert held in a public space to be accessible only to ticket holders, and urged a reconsideration of this model, which appears to favor private interests over public enjoyment. Kwon's concerns highlight a crucial dilemma regarding the use of public spaces and the balance between commercial interests and citizens’ rights.
Finally, Kwon called for measures to support those affected by the concert, including compensation for businesses that must temporarily close and pay protection for hourly workers. He also advocated for a percentage of the concert's profits to be allocated to a 'cultural diversity fund' to promote public interest, framing this as part of a broader 'profit-sharing' initiative that could help balance the economic benefits generated by such large-scale urban events against their social costs. His statements underscore an ongoing debate in South Korea about the intersection of culture, commerce, and community welfare.
