K-pop tickets easy, but baseball tickets a struggle for foreign fans

South Korea's professional baseball league is experiencing a boom, with a record 12 million spectators last year, making it a popular tourist destination. However, international fans find it nearly impossible to purchase tickets online.

Online ticketing platforms like Ticketlink and Nollticket require Korean resident registration numbers and mobile phone verification, effectively barring foreigners. This forces them to queue for hours at the stadium for a small number of tickets sold on-site, with some teams selling only 1% of their capacity offline.

This starkly contrasts with the ease of purchasing K-pop concert tickets online from abroad. "I thought baseball would be the same," said French tourist Mr. Dufresne, who had easily bought music festival tickets from France. "Why isn't baseball like that?"

While some clubs, like KT Wiz, are introducing English versions of their apps with email verification and foreign card payment options, these are exceptions. Most foreign fans struggle, relying on Korean friends or costly tour packages. "Having to ask for tickets every time is very bothersome," said American fan Sana. The ticketing platforms cite concerns about scalping if verification is eased, while the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) claims demand from foreigners isn't yet at the level of concerts.