Korea enacts tough new rules to crack down on ticket scalping

The Korean government has introduced stringent new regulations aimed at curbing ticket scalping for live events and sports matches. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced the enforcement rules on Friday, following their approval by the Cabinet on August 18. These new measures were a direct result of recent legislative changes to the Performance Act and the National Sports Promotion Act, which were approved by the National Assembly in February.

The revised legal framework explicitly prohibits fraudulent ticket purchases and unauthorized resale of tickets. Importantly, the ban applies to all individuals, regardless of whether they employ automated software to rapidly purchase digital tickets or if they perform the task manually. This eliminates a previous legal loophole that had allowed scalpers to evade penalties based on their method of ticket acquisition.

Under the new rules, ticket sellers and resale platforms are obligated to implement comprehensive compliance mechanisms. These entities must verify the identities of all users, establish active reporting systems, and impose restrictions to prevent illicit ticket purchases.