ABMSRTY

The news reports that BTS were supposed to receive 7 billion KRW, being $4.75M USD, for their concert in Busan World Expo bid. But the South Korean government ultimately scammed them - making them not only perform for free, but also bear all concert organization costs. The government has also burdened BTS with organizing everything. The government has initially suggested a venue with poor mass event safety measures, posting a safety hazard for fans, which made BTS also responsible of organizing new venue (in the end, Busan Asiad Stadium) The scam is even more appalling, when we consider the government's awful efforts for the World Expo bid in general, resting the responsibility to promote it and a massive public expectations on BTS. Here it's worth to remember that World Expo economic boost is comparable to hosting the Olympics or football continental championships, Korean public had big hopes for this. It's not the only time the government tried to use them for the bid. In 2023 another event promoting it, Jamboree concert, has faced severe organization criticism. The ministry of defense urged the government to "take all measures" to make (force) BTS to perform, including using their power over enlisted members. The propose was successfully rejected by bighit. It sparked a larger debate, what would happen if all 7 members were enlisted instead. South Korea had also been proposing laws that would let BTS members take military enlistment in periods - and perform in between, for the national economy. The proposition was as horrid as it was controversial, mostly because other existing laws would render BTS unable to receive any money for the performances - enlisted soldiers cannot perform other paying jobs. The futile attempt was aiming to continue using BTS for the country while in military, without allowing them the benefit of exemption for it. These are just some of examples of the South Korean government ceaseless efforts to exploit BTS to compensate national economy to their own lacking governing abilities