Fan club pre-sales for BTS’ upcoming Arirang world tour kicked off Thursday, with nearly 100,000 fans queuing online. Within moments, all three concerts in Goyang, South Korea’s Gyeonggi Province, were sold out almost instantly. Despite this rapid sell-out, competition remained fierce among both official fan clubs and the general public alike, leading to some fans being pushed into long waiting lines.
The situation underscores BTS’ enduring popularity while also highlighting the escalating challenges of securing K-pop concert tickets. Ticket prices have seen significant increases over recent years, especially with premium packages now commonplace. For example, the highest-priced ticket for the Goyang shows reached 264,000 Korean won ($183), a rise of nearly 70% from prior sound check packages.
BTS is not alone in this trend; other K-pop acts have also seen similar price hikes. A rookie group like Illit charged up to 253,000 Korean won for meet and greet tickets during their debut tour, while Enhypen set comparable prices at Walk the Line concerts with sound check seats priced at 220,000 Korean won. These increases reflect a significant 28% rise from just a year earlier.
Despite industry complaints about price hikes, many see these as inevitable given the evolving nature of live music performances and rising operational costs in large venues like stadiums or domes. For example, BTS’ Goyang Sports Complex can accommodate up to 50,000 attendees, more than three times that of typical K-pop venues.
While Korean concert tickets are generally considered affordable compared to those elsewhere, the price differences remain significant globally. In Japan, for instance, VIP tickets for BTS concerts start at 45,000 yen ($292), while standard seating is priced from 25,000 yen. The US and Canada see much higher prices; in New Jersey alone, premium seats range from about $84 to as high as $787.
Overall, the BTS Arirang world tour represents a significant escalation in K-pop concert pricing, with many fans needing to seek out secondary market purchases just to secure access to events.