Minister Choi Hwee Young: "Ticket Scalping Is a Serious Crime... Active Response to BTS Concert Scalping"

Official Launch of the Public-Private Council Against Ticket Scalping in Performance and Sports

"Suspected Ticket Scalping for BTS Concerts... Platform-Level Management Needed"

"Ticket Scalping Distorts Cultural Enjoyment Opportunities and Destroys Market Order"

"The acts of purchasing and selling scalped tickets must be firmly established as a grave crime that undermines the foundation of a culturally advanced nation. The comeback concert of BTS is a crucial test for our response to ticket scalping. Even before the law takes effect, the government will actively respond using all available means."

On March 5, at the launch ceremony of the "Public-Private Council Against Ticket Scalping in Performance and Sports," held at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul, Hwee Young Choi, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, declared that ticket scalping constitutes a serious criminal act and affirmed the government's commitment to actively respond to ticket scalping related to BTS's comeback concert.

Minister Choi pointed out that, as a result of monitoring BTS's comeback concert, multiple suspected cases of ticket scalping have been detected on certain platforms. BTS is scheduled to hold their comeback concert on March 21 at Gwanghwamun Square, marking their return after 3 years and 9 months. Subsequently, starting from April 9 in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, they will embark on a world tour that will continue through March next year, visiting cities across the globe.

Choi Hwiyeong, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism (second from left), delivers a greeting at the launch ceremony of the 'Performance Sports Ticket Resale Prevention Public-Private Council' held on the 5th at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Minister Choi emphasized the need for intensive management at the platform level regarding BTS concerts, stating, "A thorough public-private response is necessary to reduce the demand for scalped tickets." He further added, "We need to inform the public that if scalping transactions for BTS concerts are detected, reservations may be canceled, and due to on-site identity verification, actual transfer or acquisition of tickets is practically impossible. It is important to seek public cooperation on these points."

Since his inauguration last July, Minister Choi has designated illegal ticket scalping, along with the illegal distribution of K-content, as the "two major chronic ailments of the cultural industry," and has stressed the need for prompt countermeasures. In line with the Minister's strong determination, partial amendments to the "Performances Act" and the "National Sports Promotion Act," which enable the imposition of fines of up to 50 times the sales amount for illegal ticket transactions, passed the National Assembly's plenary session on January 29 and are set to take effect on August 28. The newly established public-private joint council plans to discuss and prepare a range of technical, institutional, and cultural implementation measures for eradicating ticket scalping, and to draft the enforcement ordinance.

In his speech at the launch ceremony, Minister Choi stated, "Today marks a very meaningful first step in eradicating the long-standing chronic ailments of our cultural industry," and added, "The issue of ticket scalping is a complex problem involving technology, distribution, and consumer awareness."

Minister Choi continued, "Performances and sports should be areas that anyone in the country can access fairly. Ticket scalping is not merely a market transaction; it distorts the public's opportunities to enjoy culture and sports, undermines market order, and infringes upon the legitimate rights of artists, athletes, and spectators."

The launch ceremony was attended by 18 related organizations, including the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; relevant ministries (the Fair Trade Commission and the National Police Agency); major ticket reservation platforms (NolTicket, Melon Ticket, YES24, Coupang Play, Ticket Link); major secondhand trading platforms (Naver, Danggeun Market, Junggonara, Ticket Bay); pro sports associations; Korea Baseball Organization (KBO); Korea Popular Music Performance Industry Association; Korea Music Content Association; and organizations operating ticket scalping reporting centers (Korea Sports Promotion Foundation and Korea Creative Content Agency).

Choi Huijeong, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is taking a commemorative photo with attendees at the launch ceremony of the ‘Performances and Sports Scalping Prevention Public-Private Council’ held on the 5th at the Seoul branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Ticket reservation platforms such as NolTicket emphasized that they will establish a system for blocking fraudulent purchases at all times by introducing advanced security solutions, operate integrated monitoring and reporting channels for fraudulent acts through internal surveillance, customer tips, and cooperation with organizers, and build a data sharing system with relevant agencies to strengthen investigative cooperation. Secondhand trading platforms announced that they will regularly monitor suspected ticket scalping transactions and, upon detection, will strengthen sanctions step by step, including deleting posts, warning sellers, and restricting transactions.

KBO and the Korea Popular Music Performance Industry Association stated that they will conduct on-site monitoring (through undercover agents) at all times and expand awareness of ticket scalping prevention by linking this with participation challenges and major league events. The Fair Trade Commission proposed to thoroughly check compliance with the new requirements introduced in the amended "E-Commerce Act," such as verifying the identity information of sellers on secondhand trading platforms, distinguishing business sellers, and cooperating in dispute resolution, in order to prevent the occurrence of illegal activities such as ticket scalping in advance. In addition, the National Police Agency announced its plan to actively apprehend those involved in the illegal purchase or sale of scalped tickets, based on the cooperative system established with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and other relevant agencies.

Minister Choi emphasized, "Only when the roles of each organization are organically connected—from blocking fraudulent acts at the reservation stage, constant monitoring by platform operators, rapid information sharing with investigative agencies, to public awareness campaigns—will we see effective results. In particular, the proactive role of platforms that could become channels for ticket scalping transactions is crucial."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.