Gyeonggi Arts Center employees under investigation for inflating ticket sales

Employees of the Gyeonggi Arts Center are facing an internal police investigation over allegations of artificially inflating performance sales figures. The probe centers on claims that staff members purchased large quantities of tickets for their own performances at significantly reduced prices, only to leave them unused.

According to reports, the Gyeonggi Provincial Dance Company's performance 'Gui Gui Lai Le' held on July 3-4 was the focus of the alleged scheme. It is reported that Kim Kyung-sook, the director of the dance company, purchased 450 tickets on July 3, while Gyeonggi Arts Center president Kim Sang-hoe bought 150 tickets on July 4, both using their personal credit cards.

The investigation reportedly found that these tickets, normally priced between 20,000 and 40,000 won, were reclassified under a 'cultural welfare' category and purchased for just 1,000 won each. Despite the bulk purchase of 600 tickets, none were apparently used by the purchasers at the venue, fueling suspicions that the transactions were solely intended to inflate sales metrics.

While the police have initiated a preliminary investigation (naesa), no formal charges have been filed yet. A police official stated that formal charges and investigations would proceed if clear evidence of illegal activity emerges. The Gyeonggi Provincial Government also launched its own audit into the center regarding these allegations late last month.

“

If clear circumstances of illegality appear, we will formally charge and investigate.