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(The CEN News / Reporter Lee Seung-ryeol)
With BTS headed to Busan, the city is staging itself as one big festival playground. Officials aren’t stopping at dressing up the concert venues — they’re rolling out attractions along the whole visitor route, from the airport through Busan Station to Gwangalli, the North Port, and Haeundae, aiming to keep tourists exploring longer and coming back.
On the 18th, Busan announced it will run a monthlong, citywide tourism program tied to “BTS World Tour: Arirang IN Busan,” scheduled for June 12–13.
The goal is to turn the entire city into a celebration. Rather than a quick, one-off show-and-go event, the city is pushing a stay-and-explore model that nudges visitors to wander through multiple neighborhoods.
Gimhae Airport will get welcome photo zones and information services for international travelers. At Busan Station’s Eurasia Platform, a welcome center will offer luggage storage, tourist information, and K-pop experience programs. The station plaza will host a pop-up market featuring local brands and businesses.
When night falls, Busan plans to light up the skyline: Gwangan Bridge, Busan Tower, Nurimaru, and other landmarks will glow, while welcome messages stream across billboards around Haeundae and Busan Station.
On concert day, Gwangalli Beach will feature a large-scale light show using 1,000 drones. Song Sang-hyeon Square will be transformed into a red-lit themed area inspired by BTS album concepts, complete with performances, photo zones, and interactive booths.
To spread visitors beyond the concert areas, Busan will run dedicated city tour buses with ‘BTS THE CITY’ wraps, offering separate day and night routes that reach the old downtown and the northern and western districts.
At North Port Pier 1, “Port Village Busan 2026” will showcase about 50 local food and beverage brands. Hwamyeong Ecological Park will host traditional liquor pop-ups and a nighttime food market. The city is packaging culinary and after-dark experiences so visitor spending doesn’t concentrate only around the venues.
Busan will also operate a tourism information center near the venues. A limited number of welcome kits — including discount coupons and souvenirs — will be distributed to visitors at the welcome centers and participating public accommodations.
Officials and analysts see the initiative as more than a K-pop moment; it’s a trial run for Busan’s ambitions as a global tourist city. The real test will be whether nearly a month of curated tourist flows converts into measurable spending and repeat visits.
(The CEN News) Reporter Lee Seung-ryeol ottnews@kakao.com
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