By KHT Staff. AI illustration image based on a reference picture.
KAOHSIUNG — The city government has denied claims that borough offices near the National Stadium (國家體育場) received complimentary concert tickets, as residents continue to complain about noise from major events at the venue.
The issue centers on five Zuoying District (左營區) boroughs near the stadium, also known as the World Games Main Stadium (世運主場館). Residents in the area have long complained that concerts and pre-show sound checks disrupt nearby communities, sometimes beginning one or two days before performances.
The Liberty Times reports that, as the city’s concert economy draws more political attention, claims have circulated that local borough offices received “community benefit” tickets from concert organizers. The implication was that neighborhood representatives were receiving ticket benefits while residents were still dealing with noise problems.
The Zuoying District Office forwarded a Culture Bureau (文化局) letter to the five borough offices: Yongqing (永清里), Juguang (莒光里), Guanghui (光輝里), Hequn (合群里) and Mingjian (明建里).
The letter said borough chiefs had asked the city to clarify that their offices had not received concert-related ticket benefits.
The Culture Bureau said any complimentary or community benefit tickets are arranged by concert organizers as part of their own planning, not distributed by the city government or the bureau.
Based on information available to the bureau, none of the surrounding boroughs received organizer-provided complimentary tickets for National Stadium concerts this year, the letter said.
The dispute highlights a growing tension around the city’s concert boom. Major shows have brought large crowds and tourism revenue, but nearby residents say they continue to face noise from concerts and rehearsals without clear relief measures.
