 |
Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Convenience stores near Seoul’s Gwanghwamun area are scrambling to clear excess inventory after turnout for a BTS concert fell far short of initial projections, prompting so-called “tearful clearance sales.”
According to police estimates on March 22, around 42,000 people gathered near Gwanghwamun on March 21 for the BTS performance. Seoul city data also put the crowd at roughly 40,000.
Even the organizer HYBE’s own estimate of 104,000 attendees fell well below earlier projections that as many as 260,000 people could attend.
Authorities attributed the lower turnout to strict crowd control measures and safety concerns. Police and related agencies implemented a three-tiered access control system, conducting thorough inspections and notifying the public in advance. In addition, the live broadcast of the concert discouraged some visitors concerned about potential safety risks.
A total of more than 15,000 personnel were deployed for on-site management, including approximately 6,700 police officers, 3,400 personnel from fire authorities, the city government and district offices, and around 4,800 staff from the event organizer.
With fewer visitors than expected due to tightened controls, many convenience stores were left with large volumes of unsold pre-ordered goods.
On March 22, the day after the concert, several stores in the Gwanghwamun area were seen with dozens of kimbap and sandwiches—items that must be discarded the same day—still on shelves.
Some store owners also pointed to traffic restrictions as a factor affecting sales. “Sales were not particularly better than during usual rallies,” said a convenience store owner in the area, adding that deploying over 10,000 control personnel may have been excessive.
However, some convenience store headquarters said they had prearranged measures to absorb excess inventory and minimize losses for franchisees. An industry official said, “The headquarters had agreed in advance to provide support to prevent disposal-related losses at franchise stores.”
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
