Following internal backlash regarding a plan to mobilize civil servants for the upcoming BTS concert, the city of Busan has reversed its mandatory drafting policy and decided to operate its personnel based entirely on volunteers.
Recently, a post titled “1,000 civil servants are being drafted for the BTS concert. For free“ surfaced on a popular anonymous online community for verified corporate workers.
The author, verified as a public servant, raised a grievance stating, “This isn’t an open outdoor street performance like the past Seoul concerts, it’s not a free concert, and it’s not even hosted by the city of Busan. Hybe is running a commercial concert to make a profit, so why are 915 Busan civil servants being drafted instead of the agency hiring their own security and logistics? Is this right?”
As the post spread across the internet, a heated debate ignited online over the appropriateness of utilizing public servants for the event.
Some netizens argued that city-level support is justified because the BTS concert contributes significantly to boosting the local economy and promoting the city. Proponents of this view also noted that since the event draws massive crowds, the deployment of public servants is inevitable to ensure public safety management.
On the other hand, critics countered that the safety management personnel for a profit-driven concert should be hired directly by the agency or the organizers, arguing that deploying public resources for such purposes is inappropriate.
As the controversy intensified, the city of Busan withdrew its original plan to mandatory draft civil servants and opted to form the workforce strictly from volunteers.
A Busan city official stated, “Initially, the drafted public servants were scheduled to handle safety management duties, such as traffic control and maintaining order around the Sajik Stadium on the day of the concert. However, after the controversy arose, we decided to withdraw the plan following internal discussions.”
The official added, “Instead, we are accepting applications from employee volunteers until today, and the exact size and allocation of the deployed workforce will be finalized on June 10. Even if the total number of personnel decreases compared to the initial plan, we will strategically place them where they are needed most to ensure that citizen safety is maximally guaranteed.“
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