The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has uncovered suspected cases of high-priced scalping related to BTS concerts and has requested a police investigation.

The ministry announced on March 11 that, in order to crack down on ticket scalping, which has become a growing social problem, it closely monitored major online secondhand transaction platforms for BTS concerts in Gwanghwamun and Goyang. As a result, it has requested the National Police Agency to investigate four cases, totaling 105 tickets, suspected of illegal scalping.

AP Yonhap News

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According to the ministry, monitoring of online secondhand transaction posts from January 23, the start of ticket sales, to March 9, revealed a total of 1,868 posts related to ticket scalping. By platform, there were 1,413 posts on Junggonara and 455 on Ticketbay.

Among these, the ministry requested an investigation into four cases, totaling 105 tickets, where multiple tickets for the same concert date were secured and offered for sale at inflated prices, indicating suspected illegal scalping activities.

The ministry also cautioned that purchasing scalped tickets may result in being unable to attend the actual performance.

For the BTS Gwanghwamun concert, a mobile QR code system is being implemented, making it impossible to use screenshots, and once used, tickets cannot be reissued or reused.

Additionally, all attendees must undergo identity verification with a designated ID at entry, after which they are required to wear a wristband that cannot be reattached. Wristbands will be checked during movement within the venue, and random identity checks will be conducted even after entry. Anyone found in violation will be asked to leave the venue.

The organizers continue to monitor online posts to identify violations of ticketing policies. If individuals fail to provide an explanation or cannot be verified, their ticket reservations will be canceled.

Foreign tourists are taking commemorative photos with promotional materials announcing the comeback of the group BTS, returning as a full team for the first time in 3 years and 9 months, on the stairs of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News.

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The ministry is also pursuing institutional improvements to resolve the scalping issue. Under the revised Performing Arts Promotion Act and National Sports Promotion Act, all illegal transactions are banned regardless of whether macro programs are used, and violators can be fined up to 50 times the sale amount.

On March 5, a public-private consultative body to eradicate scalping was launched, establishing a cooperative framework with relevant agencies, major ticketing outlets, secondhand transaction platforms, and related associations and organizations.

With additional ticket sales scheduled for March 12, the ministry anticipates a potential increase in scalping posts and has called for the deletion of posts violating ticketing policies, as well as strengthened on-site identity verification and enhanced supervision. Suspected cases of illegal transactions involving macros can be reported to the ticket scalping reporting center at the Fairness and Coexistence Center within the Korea Creative Content Agency.

Minister Choi Hwi-young stated, "Ticket scalping disrupts the order of distribution in the healthy performance market and exploits the affection of fans. Starting with this investigation request, we will continue to take firm and ongoing action until scalping is eradicated."

He added, "Scalping is a problem that can be eliminated if there are no buyers. Tickets should be purchased only through official outlets."