Surabaya, E. Java. Dozens of fans of South Korean boy band BTS have filed a police report against the owner of a Surabaya-based fan community over an alleged concert ticket and travel scam that has caused losses exceeding Rp 2 billion ($111,000).
The fans, collectively known as ARMY, accused Kurnia Yulianti, owner of CV Uniality Tour and Travel and founder of the Surabaya ARMY 21 community, of failing to deliver tickets and overseas travel packages that had been paid for.
The alleged scam involved a ticket-buying service for BTS WORLD TOUR “ARIRANG” concerts in Jakarta, scheduled for Dec. 26, 27, and 29 at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium.
The fans said they paid between Rp 2.1 million and Rp 5 million per ticket for categories ranging from Platinum to VIP. They claimed Kurnia’s team secured only 15 tickets during the official sales on June 9 and 11, while dozens of customers neither received tickets nor full refunds.
“People trusted Kurnia because she led one of the largest BTS fan communities in Surabaya. That was why many of us used her ticket-buying service and travel packages,” victim Sarah Nila said.
According to the fans, losses from undelivered concert tickets reached hundreds of millions of rupiah, with some individuals claiming to have lost as much as Rp 500 million. An additional Rp 1.7 billion in losses was linked to canceled overseas tour packages.
One of the largest disputes involved a Bangkok tour scheduled for June 19. Riri, a fan, said participants had already arrived at the airport when they were informed that the trip had been canceled. She alleged the organizer later admitted the funds were no longer available, triggering demands for refunds.
The fans gathered at the travel agency’s office in Surabaya before reporting the case to the Surabaya Police. They said those affected come not only from Surabaya but also from Sidoarjo, Papua, and even Japan.
BTS, also known as Bangtan Boys, is one of the world’s biggest K-pop groups. The band’s ongoing “ARIRANG” World Tour, which began in April, includes more than 88 performances across 34 cities in 23 countries, with Jakarta among its scheduled stops later this year.
