Police join forces with Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and KBO

Tougher penalties took effect in August after law revision

Awareness campaign against scalping culture also planned

An AI-generated image depicting a simulated ticket scalping crackdown. [Generated with AI]
An AI-generated image depicting a simulated ticket scalping crackdown. [Generated with AI]

Police have been stepping up efforts to stamp out ticket scalping, most recently arresting a man in his 30s who allegedly sold about 9,000 scalped tickets and pocketed 1.6 billion won ($1.2 million) in profit. With a recent revision to the relevant law toughening penalties for scalpers, authorities are now moving into full enforcement mode — launching a joint crackdown on on-site ticket scalping starting Wednesday.

The Korean National Police Agency announced Sunday that it would join the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Baseball Organization on Wednesday to conduct intensive enforcement operations around professional baseball postseason venues, targeting on-site ticket scalping that has been rampant in the area.

The legal landscape for scalpers has changed significantly. Previously, those caught selling tickets on-site faced only a minor fine of 160,000 won under the Minor Offenses Act. Since the revised National Sports Promotion Act took effect Aug. 28, however, habitual or commercial scalping can now be punished by up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won.

Police expect illegal activity exploiting the excitement of the fall baseball season to increase, and will conduct enforcement operations around major ballparks to protect a fair spectating environment. Target venues include those in Seoul, Daegu, Gwangju and Suwon in Gyeonggi Province, where joint enforcement teams made up of police officers alongside Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and KBO staff will be deployed.

On-site enforcement will focus on areas around ticket booths, subway exits and main pedestrian routes used by baseball fans, both before and after games begin. Plainclothes officers and joint patrol teams will be stationed at enforcement sites to intercept organized on-site sales and touting.

The joint crackdown will also include a range of public awareness activities aimed at eradicating scalping culture, not just on-site enforcement. An anti-scalping awareness campaign that began following a memorandum of understanding signed between the Korean National Police Agency and the KBO last year will continue through this postseason. Outreach efforts on youth cybergambling and voice phishing will also be conducted alongside the crackdown.

"Ticket scalping at ballparks is a serious crime that can result in heavy criminal punishment," a Korean National Police Agency official said. "We will continue to work closely with relevant agencies to crack down hard on illegal scalping that exploits fans' passion and robs them of fair access to games, and to help establish a healthy spectating culture."

Meanwhile, the Gyeonggi Northern District Police Agency's Cyber Crime Investigation Unit 2 recently arrested a man in his 30s, identified only by his surname initial A, on charges of obstruction of business and referred the case to prosecutors.

A is accused of purchasing 8,967 tickets to popular performances and sporting events between September 2018 and last April, then reselling them at a markup. He primarily used automated macro programs and accounts belonging to family members and relatives to buy up the tickets.

Police estimate A's total sales at around 2.4 billion won, with roughly two-thirds of that figure believed to be profit.


20ki@heraldcorp.com