▲ This undated file photo shows street installation promoting BTS' comeback at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul. (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, March 11 (Yonhap) -- The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Wednesday it has referred four suspected cases of ticket scalping for concerts by BTS to police for investigation.

 

The concerts are scheduled to take place in the Gwanghwamun Square area on March 21 and at Goyang Sports Complex from April 9 to 12.

 

After closely monitoring major online secondhand trading platforms, the ministry said it identified 1,868 posts offering tickets for resale, including duplicates.

 

Among them, authorities detected four suspected scalping cases involving a total of 105 tickets believed to have been secured in multiple quantities for the same performance and offered for resale at significantly inflated prices.

 

▲ Image provided by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

The ministry cautioned that, due to strict ticketing policies for BTS concerts, including thorough identity verification, tickets purchased through scalpers are effectively unusable.

 

It also warned that scalping posts and ticket fraud could surge around 8 p.m. Thursday, when additional ticket sales for BTS’ comeback concert at Gwanghwamun are set to begin.

 

The ministry asked organizers, ticketing agencies and online platform operators to strengthen oversight to prevent illegal ticket sales.

 

Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young said the government will continue taking firm and sustained measures until ticket scalping is eradicated to establish a fair concert-going culture.

 

“Even if scalped tickets are purchased, actual transfers are practically impossible, and buyers face a high risk of fraud, including sellers disappearing after the sale,” he said. “Tickets should be purchased only through official ticketing channels.”

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