The idea that everyone should be nothing but grateful towards BTS for boosting Korea's economy through tourism is funny to me because I'm from Vegas. The city has built so much of it's economy around tourism but there's so much poverty here and we always rank last when it comes to pretty much everything.
you’re so right. that’s a hard concept for most ppl to grasp, I think- even if bts is boosting tourism, who benefits from a booming tourism sector? tourism economies are unsustainable cos they’re catering to people on vacation who feel entitled to an excellent experience in their limited time here- who eat n trash n fetishise, who criticise if things aren’t catered to them without knowing the nuance of the culture they’re around, and who don’t influence lifestyles for the people who actually live there in any positive way.
“yay my faves give korea more money!!!!!” what in the name of brainwashed capitalist is this something to be proud of. who pockets that money? to state that tourism creates jobs isn’t enough- are those workers being treated fairly? are they getting a living wage? idk enough about korea’s labor laws to say so but the inherent nature of a tourism industry is that it’s exploitative, and it’s the working class + people in poverty who suffer the most
