South Korea Cracks Down on Ticket Scalping with New Regulations and Rewards

South Korea is intensifying its fight against ticket scalping with a new set of regulations designed to penalize illegal resale and reward those who report it.

Effective from August 28, revised enforcement decrees for the Performing Arts Act and the National Sports Promotion Act impose new obligations on platform operators. These platforms must now actively prevent the illicit trading of tickets, including those acquired through automated bots. Failure to comply can result in administrative surcharges of up to 50 times the face value of the tickets involved.

The new measures also introduce a 신고 포상금 (reporting reward) system. Individuals who report illegal ticket purchases can be eligible for rewards of up to 50 million Korean won (approximately $37,000 USD). Those who report illegal sales activities may receive up to 50% of the fine levied against the offender.

These changes follow amendments made in February that prohibited the purchase of tickets for resale and the sale of tickets at inflated prices, regardless of whether bots were used. The enforcement decrees further detail the responsibilities of ticket sellers and online intermediaries, including measures like identity verification, operating reporting functions, and restricting the visibility of fraudulent listings.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Jeong-woo emphasized the government's commitment to eradicating ticket scalping through close cooperation with various agencies, including the police and ticketing platforms. The goal is to ensure fair access to events for fans and establish a more orderly ticketing environment.

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We will ensure fair viewing opportunities for concert-goers and sports fans and establish a fair ticketing order through all-out efforts to eradicate ticket scalping in close cooperation with related agencies such as the police.