Police have launched an investigation into ticket scalping for the Korean baseball postseason, targeting individuals who resell tickets online at inflated prices. Following the strengthening of related laws in August, individuals can face penalties for habitual or commercial ticket sales, even without the use of macro programs.
According to the National Police Agency, the investigation was initiated after a referral from the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation. Authorities are examining suspected illegal sales of postseason tickets on resale platforms, with cyber investigation units from various regional police departments leading the effort.
Police plan to verify whether scalpers used automated booking programs or other people's accounts during the ticket purchasing process and whether they disrupted normal operations of ticket vendors. They will assess the scale of the offenses, methods used, and any concerns regarding flight or destruction of evidence, and may seek arrest warrants if necessary. Criminal proceeds from ticket scalping will be subject to confiscation and preservation before prosecution.
Authorities have cautioned that ticket scalping can lead to penalties even without the use of macros. The amended National Sports Promotion Act, which took effect on August 28, prohibits the habitual or commercial resale of tickets at prices exceeding the original purchase price without the seller's consent. It also bans circumventing or disrupting ticket purchasing systems for resale purposes.
Previously, the focus was primarily on illegal sales using macros, but the new law allows for penalties against habitual and commercial scalping regardless of macro usage. Those caught engaging in illegal sales could face fines up to 50 times the sale amount, and penalties for illegal purchases or sales could include up to one year in prison or fines of up to 10 million won.
A reward system for reporting scalping has also been implemented. Individuals who report illegal purchases can receive up to 50 million won, while those reporting illegal sales can earn rewards based on 50% of the fines imposed on violators.
Despite the legal changes, high-priced scalping continues. On October 18, some tickets for a Korean baseball playoff game were listed for sale at approximately five times their original price, reaching 800,000 won.
President Lee Jae-myung has recently expressed a strong commitment to combat ticket scalping. On October 15, he shared a report related to a campaign against scalping on his social media, warning, "Scalping may seem profitable, but think again. The losses will far outweigh any gains." He added, "We will thoroughly examine new methods used to evade enforcement and quickly enhance our measures. Do not even think about engaging in ticket scalping anymore."
Police have previously arrested professional scalpers as part of a crackdown on large-scale illegal transactions. The Northern Gyeonggi Police Agency arrested a scalper in June who had resold concert tickets worth 2.4 billion won over eight years, while the Ulsan Police Agency arrested another scalper in August who had resold concert tickets worth 800 million won over 11 months. In both cases, pre-prosecution preservation measures were taken for approximately 1.2 billion won and 400 million won, respectively.
Police plan to investigate the methods of securing tickets, the scale of sales, and any illicit profits related to ticket scalping during the Korean baseball postseason, and will respond strictly if any illegal activities are confirmed.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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