Despite government plans to toughen penalties, scalped tickets are still rampant for popular Korean concerts and classical performances. Listings on second-hand sites show prices several times the face value—for example VIP seats for singer Sung Si-kyung selling for up to ₩300,000 (face ₩165,000), and chorus seats for pianist Cho Seong-jin priced at ₩200,000+ (face ₩30,000). Sellers even offer “아옮” (ID transfer) services to move tickets to buyers. Classical concerts by Im Yoon-chan and Cho Seong-jin face heavy markups, with some R seats originally ₩450,000 resold far higher. Promoters strengthen ID checks and require family certificates when booked under relatives’ names, but resale after collection is hard to stop. The Culture Ministry has drafted an “anti-scalping” law to impose punitive fines up to 50 times illicit profits, confiscate gains, reward whistleblowers, and require marketplaces to promptly remove illegal listings; the bill passed a committee and may take effect in the latter half of next year after implementation rules. Critics warn scalpers may shift to encrypted channels like Telegram, so effective enforcement will be crucial.
