Seoul is bracing for a massive influx of international tourists as BTS’ upcoming comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square triggers a major demand shock, with downtown hotels hitting full capacity and travel searches for the capital skyrocketing. The seven-member K-pop sensation will hold a free concert in downtown Seoul on March 21, a day after their fifth studio album “Arirang” is released. The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on Jan. 22 that it granted conditional permission. The BTS effect is most visible in data from major lodging platforms. According to the domestic travel app Yeogi Otte, reservation numbers for accommodations in the Jongno and Jung districts for the concert weekend surged by 450 percent compared to the same period last year. Global interest is even more intense as Hotels.com reported that overseas searches for Seoul travel spiked by 155 percent within just 48 hours of the tour announcement on Jan. 14. "We will prioritize safety management for both the audience and citizens visiting the square," said Kim Chang-gyu, head of the city government’s Balance