SEOUL — A South Korean man in his 30s is facing prosecution after police accused him of operating a large-scale ticket-scalping business for nearly eight years, allegedly reselling 8,967 concert and sports tickets and generating about ₩2.4 billion (US$1.7 million) in sales.
Investigators say the operation included tickets for BTS, SEVENTEEN, Bruno Mars and Tottenham Hotspur-related events, with some tickets allegedly resold for nearly 30 times their original prices.
Police also say the proceeds helped the suspect purchase an apartment and two commercial properties in Gyeonggi Province.
A BTS Ticket Bought for ₩110,000 and Resold for ₩3 Million
One of the most striking examples cited by investigators involves a BTS concert ticket.
Police allege that the man purchased a ticket to BTS’s 2019 concert at Jamsil Sports Complex for ₩110,000 and later resold it for ₩3 million—more than 27 times its original price.
Other alleged transactions included:
- A SEVENTEEN fan meeting ticket bought for ₩110,000 and resold for ₩1.8 million.
- A 2024 Team K League vs. Tottenham Hotspur ticket bought for ₩400,000 and resold for ₩1.65 million.
- A Bruno Mars concert ticket from 2023 bought for ₩250,000 and resold for ₩1.2 million.
Police said some of his tickets were marked up by almost 30 times their face value.
Nearly 9,000 Tickets Over Seven Years
Investigators say the alleged operation ran from September 2018 through April 2026, covering roughly seven years and seven months.
During that period, the suspect allegedly purchased and resold 8,967 tickets to high-demand entertainment and sporting events.
Police estimate total resale revenue at approximately ₩2.4 billion, with roughly two-thirds—about ₩1.6 billion—believed to have represented profit, according to The Straits Times.
Authorities say ticket reselling had effectively become the suspect’s primary source of income after he graduated from university.
Police Say He Used Automated Programs and Relatives’ Accounts
According to investigators, the suspect allegedly used automated ticket-purchasing programs, commonly known as macros, to obtain tickets quickly.
Police also say he used accounts registered under the names of seven family members and relatives to increase his ability to obtain tickets.
Investigators said tickets were then transferred to buyers through several methods, including online transfers, changes to delivery addresses and handing over admission wristbands at venues.
Police also found the suspect in a large online group used for illegal ticket trading, where investigators say participants exchanged information about ticket availability, purchasing methods and automated programs. The Straits Times reported that the group had more than 1,300 members.
The Alleged Profits Were Used to Buy Property
The case took another turn when investigators traced assets allegedly purchased with the proceeds.
Police say the suspect acquired one apartment and two commercial properties in Gyeonggi Province.
The apartment has since been sold, according to investigators.
Authorities identified the two remaining commercial properties, together with financial claims held in the suspect’s name, as alleged criminal proceeds. They obtained measures to preserve assets worth about ₩1.26 billion ahead of possible confiscation proceedings.
The preservation order does not itself establish final forfeiture or guilt; those matters are subject to the legal process.
He Allegedly Tried to Erase Evidence
Police say the investigation intensified after the suspect learned about an earlier crackdown on a major ticket-scalping network.
Investigators allege that he then closed his registered business and formatted computers and mobile phones that had been used in the operation.
Despite those alleged efforts, police said digital-forensic work recovered evidence from seized devices and a USB storage device.
SBS also reported that investigators found searches on a generative-AI service relating to how ticket scalpers are detected and how difficult it might be to prove offenses without a search and seizure.
Suspect Denies Knowing the Resales Were Illegal
The man has denied the allegations.
According to police reports cited by Korean media, he said he did not know ticket scalping was illegal and argued that he had paid his taxes and had not harmed anyone.
His statements are part of the ongoing legal proceedings and do not resolve the allegations against him.
South Korea Has Tightened Its Anti-Scalping Rules
The case comes as South Korea has significantly strengthened its rules against illegal ticket resales.
Amendments to the Public Performance Act and National Sports Promotion Act took effect on August 28, 2026.
Under the revised framework, authorities can punish certain illegal ticket purchasing and resale activities regardless of whether automated purchasing software was used.
The changes are important because earlier enforcement efforts focused heavily on the use of automated programs.
The revised rules broaden the scope of conduct that can be punished, reflecting concerns that scalpers can use multiple accounts and other methods even without automated software.
The Stakes for K-Pop Fans Are Getting Higher
Ticket scalping has become an increasingly visible issue as demand for major K-pop concerts and international sporting events continues to grow.
For fans, the problem is not simply paying more.
Large-scale resellers can make tickets harder to obtain at face value in the first place, while extreme markups can put major concerts beyond the budgets of ordinary fans.
The case also demonstrates how authorities are increasingly looking beyond the original ticket transaction and tracing where alleged illegal proceeds ultimately go.
In this investigation, police say that trail led from concert tickets to an apartment, commercial properties and financial assets.
Authorities Continue Investigating the Network
Police have indicated that the investigation is not limited to the individual suspect.
Investigators are continuing to examine other people allegedly connected to online ticket-scalping networks.
The authorities have also emphasized that the revised laws allow them to pursue illegal resales even when scalpers do not rely on automated purchasing programs.
The case therefore highlights a broader shift in South Korea’s approach to ticket scalping: from simply catching people using ticket-buying bots to tracing organized resale activity and following the money.
For fans who have struggled to secure tickets to BTS, SEVENTEEN and other major events, the case offers a revealing look at what investigators say can happen behind the scenes of sold-out shows.
And the most eye-catching part may not be the ₩3 million BTS ticket—it is the claim that thousands of inflated ticket sales allegedly helped turn a resale operation into real estate and millions of won in assets.
