A public debate has started in South Korea after a large number of government workers were sent to help with safety at the recent BTS concert in Seoul, even though the actual crowd was much smaller than expected.
The event took place near Gwanghwamun Square and was promoted as a major BTS comeback performance. Before the concert, officials expected a huge number of people to gather in the area. Some estimates said as many as 260,000 people could attend.
However, the real number of people at the main concert site appeared to be far lower.
Actual BTS Concert Crowd Was Much Smaller Than Early Forecasts
HYBE, the concert organizer, said about 104,000 people were part of the event. The company explained that this number included real-time mobile network data from major telecom providers, budget phone users, and estimated foreign visitors.
But according to Seoul city data, only about 40,000 people were at Gwanghwamun Square around 8 p.m., when the concert began. City officials described the crowd level as busy, but not extreme.
This created a clear gap between earlier forecasts and the actual turnout. Police had predicted up to 260,000 visitors, while the Seoul city government expected around 200,000 to 300,000 people in the wider Gwanghwamun and City Hall area.
Thousands of Public Officials Were Mobilized for Safety
Because of those high crowd estimates, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety prepared a major safety plan for the BTS concert in Seoul.
In total, about 15,500 safety workers were deployed for the event. Around two-thirds of them were public workers or staff from public agencies. This included:
- 6,700 police officers
- 2,600 Seoul city workers
- 800 firefighters
- 400 Seoul Metro staff
- 70 Ministry of the Interior and Safety officials
That means more than 10,000 public officials and public agency workers were sent to support the event. HYBE provided the remaining 4,800 private staff members.
Criticism Grows Over Possible Overuse of Government Workers
After the concert, criticism quickly followed. Many people questioned whether too many public workers had been used based on crowd estimates that turned out to be inaccurate.
Critics said the government may have overreacted by sending such a large number of officials on a Saturday, which is usually a day off for many workers. Some also raised concerns about taxpayer money and whether emergency services in other areas may have been weakened.
For general government workers in South Korea, overtime pay is usually around 11,000 to 13,000 won per hour. In many cases, up to four hours of overtime pay can be given.
If 10,000 workers were paid for four extra hours, the total overtime cost would be at least 440 million won. In some departments, including fire services and certain local governments, officials were told they could receive up to eight hours of overtime for working at the concert. This means the real public cost may have been much higher.
Concerns About Emergency Response Gaps
Labor representatives also criticized the decision to use so many public officials for an event organized by a private entertainment company.
Jeon Eun-sook, head of a Seoul branch of the Korean Government Employees’ Union, said it is a problem when civil servants are heavily used for a concert run by a private business. She warned that if too many officials are pulled into one event, it may become harder to respond to other public emergencies.
Reports also said that ambulances from Incheon, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon, outside Seoul, were sent to the BTS concert area.
Kim Jong-soo, a union leader in the fire service, said this kind of deployment can create empty spots elsewhere. He explained that when too many emergency teams are moved to one place, the remaining staff must handle all other emergency cases. That could delay treatment and possibly lead to serious problems if patients miss the “golden time” for emergency care.
He also argued that as long as crowd order is maintained and ambulance access routes are secured, such a massive response may not be necessary. In his view, the safety plan may have been excessive.
Government Defends Large Safety Operation
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety defended its decision.
A ministry official said BTS is one of the most popular music groups in the world, and authorities expected a very large international crowd. The official also noted that global security concerns, including terrorism risks linked to tensions in the Middle East, were taken seriously.
According to the ministry, the government’s duty was to do everything possible to prevent any accident.
The official added that the large-scale event, which was broadcast live to 190 countries, ended without any major incidents. The ministry thanked both the public and government workers for their patience and effort in keeping the event safe.
BTS Concert in Seoul Sparks Wider Questions
The BTS concert in Seoul ended safely, but it has now raised wider questions about crowd forecasting, public spending, and the role of government workers at private events.
While some believe the strong safety response helped prevent problems, others say the turnout numbers show the plan was too large and too costly.
As discussion continues, this event may become an important example in South Korea of how officials balance public safety with efficient use of resources at major entertainment gatherings.
