BTS Comeback Concert Sparks Sales Surge in Seoul's Downtown Districts

"BTS nail art has always been popular, but this is the first time we've completely sold out. We've added more daytime staff to prepare for the weekend rush," said Min, 26, a foreign employee at a nail salon near Myeongdong Station, noting sales have jumped more than 50% recently.

At 8 a.m. on April 16, five days before BTS's comeback concert, approximately 50 tourists with colorful suitcases filled a franchise cafe near Exit 9 of Myeongdong Station. Long queues formed at kiosks while Japanese, English, and Chinese conversations filled the air. The streets of Myeongdong bustled with K-pop fans from Taiwan, the Netherlands, Japan, and other countries.

A major franchise cafe featuring BTS member V as its model also saw four employees busily serving customers. Foreign tourists posed for photos against backdrops featuring V's image. Lines of 20 to 30 customers formed outside stores selling K-pop merchandise, with particular attention focused on BT21, a collaboration between BTS and IPX, formerly known as Line Friends.

Ahead of the BTS comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square on April 21, merchants in nearby commercial districts including Gwanghwamun, Myeongdong, and Insadong are anticipating increased sales. Business owners hope the concert will revive downtown commerce that has struggled amid rising prices.

"We're playing the BTS song 'Anpanman' in our restaurant," said Oh Do-hyun, 34, who operates a restaurant in Myeongdong. "When Blackpink performed in Incheon a few months ago, foreign tourists in Myeongdong increased significantly. We're expecting a similar effect this time."

BTS songs including "Dynamite" and "Spring Day" could be heard throughout Myeongdong's streets. Ji Su-jin, 58, an employee at a nearby Chungmu Gimbap restaurant, said, "Everyone is eager to see how many customers will come this weekend. We've been seeing a lot of young foreign customers lately."

A staff member at a Myeongdong accessories shop noted, "April is usually peak season as it coincides with the start of school terms in Japan and overseas, but sales started rising from late last week."

Overseas fans who failed to secure concert tickets but came to Korea to enjoy the festive atmosphere were also visible. Dura, 33, a fan from Taiwan, said, "Four more friends from Taiwan are coming this Friday. We failed to get tickets, but we came to enjoy the atmosphere together."

Merchants near the concert venue at Gwanghwamun expressed both anticipation and concern. Kim Hyun-hee, 29, an employee at a Korean restaurant near Gwanghwamun, said, "I heard 250,000 to 300,000 people are expected on concert day. They say there will be designated exits and crowd flow routes, and since those are near our restaurant, I'm worried it will be extremely busy."

Some merchants voiced concerns about traffic controls and crowd management. A cafe employee surnamed Kim, 36, near Gwanghwamun Station, said, "We expect good sales, but I've heard some nearby buildings will be restricted or closed. I'm confused about what will happen, so I'm waiting to see how things unfold."

Police plan to deploy 6,500 officers for the concert, anticipating a record crowd of up to 260,000 people. Authorities will mobilize walk-through metal detectors, aerial observation vehicles, and other equipment for crowd management and counterterrorism measures.