South Korean woman faces charges over alleged K-pop ticket scalping scheme

Authorities in South Korea have initiated prosecution against a woman accused of operating a large-scale ticket scalping operation targeting K-pop concerts. The suspect allegedly used bot software to circumvent official ticketing systems and purchase large quantities of concert tickets, which she then resold at inflated prices through secondary markets.

Among the high-profile events targeted in the scheme was a BTS concert at Gwanghwamun in March, according to investigators. The automated purchasing system allowed the suspect to acquire tickets faster than legitimate buyers, giving her a significant advantage in securing premium seating allocations.

The prosecution alleges the illegal resale of tickets generated approximately US$319,000 in unlawful profits. The case reflects growing concerns across South Korea's entertainment industry regarding the use of technology to circumvent fair ticketing practices and exploit fan demand for major concert events.

Ticket scalping has become a persistent problem at major K-pop concerts, where demand far exceeds supply and tickets often sell out within minutes of release. South Korean authorities have intensified enforcement efforts against such practices in recent months to protect consumers and maintain fair access to entertainment events.