South Korea: Cinema chain limits ticket sales for 'Oppenheimer' IMAX screenings amid scalping

South Korean cinema chain CGV is implementing temporary restrictions on ticket sales for IMAX screenings at its highly popular Yongsan IMAX theater, dubbed 'Yong-Amak.' This measure comes in response to rampant scalping of tickets for Christopher Nolan's film 'Oppenheimer,' with some tickets reselling for over 100,000 won (approximately $75 USD).

Effective immediately for new bookings, CGV will limit purchases to a maximum of four tickets per person, per transaction, and four tickets per person, per day. The company stated this is to provide more audience members with a chance to secure tickets and to ensure a stable booking environment, especially given the surge in demand for IMAX showings.

The issue of ticket scalping, particularly for premium formats like IMAX and Dolby Cinema, has become a significant concern. The Film Development Council has been actively collecting reports of such practices, including suspected bulk purchases using automated programs. However, current laws lack sufficient provisions to directly regulate movie ticket scalping, unlike those for concerts and sports events.

In response to the growing problem and industry pressure, the South Korean government has announced plans to expedite legal amendments. Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Woon-sik acknowledged the need to address regulatory loopholes and promised swift legislative action to curb illegal ticket trading. This situation highlights a broader challenge in managing online secondary markets for entertainment.

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We will quickly push for the amendment of the 'Motion Pictures and Video Products Preservation Act' to resolve the regulatory blind spots, reflecting the voices from the field demanding such action.