President Lee Jae-myung ordered thorough preparations for crowd management ahead of BTS's comeback event scheduled for June 21 in the Gwanghwamun area of Seoul.
"Global attention is focused on South Korea ahead of BTS's Gwanghwamun concert," Lee said at a senior secretariat meeting at the presidential office on Monday. "A massive crowd is expected to gather."
The president instructed officials to "meticulously inspect transportation and emergency medical systems" and to "pay attention to safety measures and convenience facilities such as restrooms."
Lee emphasized strict enforcement against price gouging. "Price gouging is not a one-time issue—it damages South Korea's image and could deal a significant blow to the tourism industry, which should become a major industry going forward," he said. "Please ensure this concert becomes an opportunity to elevate K-culture's status."
The president also addressed health concerns among overworked presidential staff. "You have a lot of work, right? It's tough, right?" Lee asked his aides at the start of the meeting. "I heard more staff have gone to the hospital?"
"Presidential office work is extremely demanding, and we've been pushing hard for too long," Lee said. "I understand staff cannot simply drop their duties or pass them off, but the Chief of Staff should devise countermeasures."
Recalling his previous remarks that "public servants have no holidays," Lee noted: "Someone called that 'exploitative employer' behavior. The reality is that political appointees cannot observe all regulations. Still, when staff are collapsing despite giving their best, that is not desirable either."
He directed officials to "reinforce staffing even if it means revising personnel regulations" and to "develop workforce management plans that account for legal requirements for substitute personnel during holidays and overtime work."
