"Odyssey" [Universal Pictures]
"Odyssey" [Universal Pictures]

Amid a persistent scalping problem surrounding screenings of "Odyssey" at CGV Yongsan IPark Mall's IMAX theater, CGV has taken drastic action by capping the number of tickets a customer can purchase at that screen.

CGV announced the measure Thursday through a notice on its website, saying it would "temporarily adjust the number of tickets available for purchase" at the Yongsan IPark Mall IMAX screen "in order to provide more customers with the opportunity to book tickets and to maintain a stable booking environment, as demand for IMAX reservations has surged sharply in recent days."

A widely held belief among moviegoers — that IMAX is the only way to see the film as director Christopher Nolan intended — has set off a fierce battle for IMAX bookings at theaters across the country.

[CGV website]
[CGV website]

The CGV Yongsan IPark Mall IMAX theater is the only screen in South Korea capable of projecting the film's native 1.43:1 aspect ratio. Tickets sell out the moment they go on sale, and scalpers have been reselling seats at a premium on secondhand markets.

According to Thursday's notice, the purchase limit applies only to IMAX titles screening at the Yongsan IPark Mall IMAX theater. Customers may buy a maximum of four tickets per transaction and no more than four tickets per day.

The restriction takes effect for bookings made after the notice was posted Thursday and does not affect reservations already completed.

CGV asked for customers' understanding, saying it "will continuously monitor bookings made through abnormal channels and ticket resales for commercial purposes, and will do its utmost to ensure that more customers have access to a stable booking experience."


balme@heraldcorp.com