First investigation request against 170 suspected ticket scalpers — 11,000 tickets, KRW 1.03 billion
Source material is a Korean government announcement (in Korean).
For the first time since the amended laws took effect, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism requested an investigation into 170 suspected scalpers (11,000 tickets, KRW 1.03 billion), and scalping can be reported on the integrated performance and sports scalping report website.
Key facts
| Investigation request | 170 people (121 professional sports, 49 performances) — October 6, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Scale | Expected sales of 11,000 tickets, KRW 1.03 billion |
| Prohibited acts | Amended laws effective August 28 — unauthorized purchase and resale of tickets prohibited regardless of macro use |
| Surcharges and rewards | Unauthorized resale surcharge up to 50 times the sales amount / Rewards up to KRW 50 million for unauthorized purchase reports, up to 50% of the surcharge for unauthorized resale reports |
| Variant sales | Fees, service charges, merchandise bundles, etc. can also be punished if the substance is an unauthorized transaction |
| How to report | Integrated performance and sports scalping report website www.culture.go.kr/singo |
Last checked:
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 7th that, after analyzing scalping reports for performances and professional sports, it requested on October 6, 2026 an investigation into 170 people (121 in professional sports, 49 in performances) suspected of scalping. The expected sales amount to 11,000 tickets worth KRW 1.03 billion. Since the amended Performance Act and National Sports Promotion Act took effect on August 28, unauthorized purchase and resale of performance and sports tickets has been prohibited regardless of whether macros are used. Penalty surcharges for unauthorized resale can reach up to 50 times the sales amount, and reward payments are up to KRW 50 million for reports of unauthorized purchase and up to 50% of the surcharge for reports of unauthorized resale. About 68,000 reports were received from when the law took effect through October 1. So-called 'variant sales' disguised as fees or merchandise bundles are also punishable if the substance of the transaction is an unauthorized transaction, and suspected scalping can be reported on the integrated performance and sports scalping report website (www.culture.go.kr/singo).
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
FAQ
Is scalping without macros also illegal?
Since the amended Performance Act and National Sports Promotion Act took effect on August 28, unauthorized purchase and resale of performance and sports tickets has been prohibited regardless of whether macros are used.
Is there a reward for reporting scalping?
Rewards of up to KRW 50 million can be paid for reports of unauthorized purchase, and up to 50% of the surcharge for reports of unauthorized resale.
Are sales bundled with merchandise also punishable?
Regardless of how a transaction is labeled, it can be punished if its substance is an unauthorized transaction under the Performance Act or National Sports Promotion Act, and 4 'variant sales' cases were included in this investigation request.