A controversy over allegedly severely obstructed seats at BIGBANG’s Goyang concert has reportedly been brought before South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission.
The disputed F1 and F2 FLOOR R seats, which were sold for 253,000 won (approximately $183), were among the most expensive seating options at the group’s BIGBANG 2026 WORLD TOUR IN GOYANG concert.
According to a report by Sports Kyunghyang on August 28, the Seoul Regional Fair Trade Office received a complaint concerning whether the sale, disclosure and inspection of the F1 and F2 seats complied with South Korea’s Act on Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce, as well as whether ticket refunds should be required.
The three-day concert was held at Goyang Stadium from August 21 to 23. The F1 and F2 seats were classified as FLOOR R and were positioned directly in front of the main stage, according to the seating map previously released by YG Entertainment. However, concertgoers claimed that the actual stage configuration created a major visibility problem.
A raised structure connecting the main stage and extended stage reportedly crossed the line of sight between the FLOOR R seating area and the main stage. Because the FLOOR R seats were located on the ground level, audience members said the structure significantly obstructed their view. Photos and videos posted online after the concert appeared to show large portions of the main stage blocked by the structure.
Some attendees reportedly complained that when BIGBANG members were standing on the main stage, they could barely see even their heads. They said the performers became visible only when lifts rose or when the members moved toward the extended stage.
One of the central issues in the complaint is when YG Entertainment disclosed the potential visibility restrictions. When YG first released information about the concert on June 15, there was reportedly no separate warning stating that the main stage could be obstructed from the FLOOR R sections.
A restricted-view notice was added later, when YG announced additional ticket sales on July 7. At the time, the company reportedly warned that some seats could have limited visibility or sound depending on stage structures and equipment. It also advised customers to consider the restrictions carefully before purchasing.
YG further stated that cancellations, changes or refunds based on visibility restrictions would not be possible on the day of the concert. The complainant is therefore asking the Fair Trade Commission to determine what information buyers of F1 and F2 seats actually received before completing their purchases in June and July.
The complaint also raises questions about whether the seats were properly inspected after the final stage design was determined. Some of the disputed seats were reportedly made available for sale only three days before the concert, on August 18, after the organizers finalized the stage installation. The complainant has asked authorities to examine whether visibility was checked on a seat-by-seat basis after the actual stage structures were installed.
The legal question is ultimately whether the actual concert-viewing conditions differed materially from what was disclosed or agreed upon when the tickets were sold. Under South Korea’s electronic commerce law, consumers may have the right to cancel a purchase when goods or services are provided differently from their advertising or contractual terms.
A previous YG Entertainment concert at the same venue has also been cited as a comparison. During BLACKPINK’s concert at Goyang Stadium last year, YG reportedly designated seats with expected visibility restrictions as separate “restricted-view seats” and sold them for 99,000 won. When unexpected visibility problems occurred in the N3 section, which had originally been sold as regular seating, YG reportedly offered affected ticket holders a full refund.
The comparison has consequently intensified questions over whether the disputed BIGBANG seats should have been clearly identified as restricted-view seats before purchase.
For now, no final determination has been made by the Fair Trade Commission, and the complaint does not itself establish that YG violated the law. The key questions will be whether buyers were adequately informed about the obstruction before purchase and whether the actual viewing conditions were consistent with the information provided at the time of sale.
Sources: 네이트 뉴스