SEOUL -- Wehome (Wehome.me), Korea’s leading home sharing platform, announced that it is partnering with the Busan Metropolitan Government and the Busan Citizens’ Organizations Council to launch “Busan Seagull Nest,” a citizen-driven home sharing project designed to connect global BTS fans (ARMYs) with Busan residents during the upcoming BTS World Tour concerts in Busan.

The initiative is part of K-POPSTAY BUSAN, Wehome’s global lifestyle sharing program for K-POP fans. K-POPSTAY enables fans from around the world to stay with Korean fans and local residents, experience Korean daily life firsthand, and engage in meaningful cultural exchange beyond traditional tourism.

With hundreds of thousands of BTS fans expected to visit Busan, accommodation shortages and surging hotel prices have become recurring challenges whenever major concerts and international events are held in the city. In response, Busan, local civic organizations, and Wehome have joined forces to introduce a new citizen-powered accommodation model.

Busan Seagull Nest is a homestay program that encourages Busan residents to voluntarily open their homes or spare rooms to international visitors. Through the program, global fans can enjoy free and authentic accommodation experiences, while Busan residents gain opportunities to meet and connect with visitors from around the world. More than simply providing lodging, the project serves as a platform for cultural exchange between local communities and international travelers.

As the operating partner, Wehome will manage the dedicated K-POPSTAY BUSAN platform, host-guest matching, reservation and payment systems, multilingual customer support, liability insurance coverage, and welcome kits for participants. The company will also provide comprehensive safety measures and customer support services to ensure a secure and comfortable experience for international guests.

Since its founding, Wehome has viewed the sharing economy as more than a lodging marketplace. The company believes that connecting underutilized resources with people who need them can help solve social challenges while creating value for both local communities and travelers.

The Busan Seagull Nest project reflects this vision by addressing recurring accommodation shortages and price inflation during major events through community participation and resource sharing. Busan residents can welcome visitors into their city, travelers can experience Busan safely and affordably, and the local economy can benefit from increased tourism spending and international cultural exchange.

Wehome describes this mission through its brand philosophy: “Live Locally. Stay Safely.” The company aims to combine authentic local living experiences with safe and trusted home sharing. Busan Seagull Nest represents one of the clearest examples of this vision in action, creating meaningful connections between global fans and local residents.

Wehome is Korea’s only home sharing platform with a government-authorized temporary permit under the Ministry of Science and ICT after a six-year ICT Regulatory Sandbox demonstration program. Building on this government-verified foundation, Wehome has developed a trusted and legally compliant home sharing ecosystem. The company plans to continue expanding beyond accommodation into a broader platform connecting transportation, shopping, tourism, experiences, and other K-Lifestyle services.

“Sharing economy is ultimately about connecting underutilized resources to solve real-world problems,” said Jo SanKu, Founder and CEO of Wehome. “Busan Seagull Nest is not simply an accommodation project. It is a new model of the sharing economy that connects global ARMYs with Busan residents while addressing accommodation shortages through citizen participation.”

He added, “K-POPSTAY is designed so that fans do more than attend a concert and leave. It allows them to experience Korea’s people, culture, and everyday life. Under our philosophy of ‘Live Locally. Stay Safely.,’ Wehome will continue creating new opportunities for Korea’s tourism industry through safe home-sharing and K-Lifestyle sharing experiences.”