Ticket scalping has been going on for years without an effective solution to the problem.
K-pop stars and idols are currently wrestling with the ongoing ticket scalping that put both artists and fans in a difficult position.
After G.o.d, a K-Pop boy group that boasted immense popularity in the 2000s, announced that they would hold a free concert next September at Songdo Moonlight Festival Park, all seats were fully booked after 3 minutes. Despite the event being free, many fans wanting to go would have to pay $9 for a ticket from scalpers.
Singer Sung Si Kyung was aware of ticket scalping at his concerts and urgently urged fans not to make any purchases from the scalpers.
South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism detected more than 3,500 cases of ticket fraud, a tenfold increase compared to 2020.
The situation is dire for both artists and fans: the artists’ incomes are affected, while fans also have to pay more than required to enjoy their favorite artists’ performances.
BLACKPINK’s “BORN PINK” concert witnesses an upsurge in price in many concert locations. During the YG girl group’s concert in Taiwan, the ticket price was pushed to 13,000 USD. In response, Taiwan’s legislature passed a law imposing penalties on ticket scalpers for cultural and creative performances. If caught, ticket scalpers would face a fine ranging from 10 to 50 times the face value or listed price of the scalped tickets.
While many stern legal actions are underway, the most important thing for fans is to raise awareness against ticket scalping. This will pave the way for better concert experiences for all.
Source: k14
