최휘영 문화체육관광부 장관은 5일 "최근 국민적 관심이 집중된 BTS의 공연은 암표 대응의 중요한 시험대가 될 것"이라며 민관이 함께 암표 근절에 적극적으로 나서야 한다고 밝혔다.
Choi said at the launch ceremony in Seoul for a joint public-private anti-scalping task force that the group must become a practical platform that carries out enforcement, built on constant cooperation between government and the private sector.
The task force, which officially began work that day, brings together the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and ticketing-platform companies to routinely check for illegal ticket resales and strengthen response systems. Choi has described scalping as a long-standing chronic problem in the cultural industry and has pledged a tough response. Under revisions to the Performance Act and the National Sports Promotion Act, authorities can impose penalties of up to 50 times the amount of illegal ticket sales and allow confiscation and recovery of profits from unlawful resales, sharply raising sanctions. Some have said that because the bills were drafted quickly, detailed enforcement rules still need to be prepared.
Choi said, however, that "legal revisions alone are not enough," calling scalping a complex issue involving technology, distribution channels and consumer awareness.
He said results will come only when each institution’s role is linked, including blocking fraud at the booking stage, constant monitoring by platform operators, rapid information-sharing with investigative agencies and public-awareness campaigns.
Choi also urged ticketing platforms for performances, exhibitions and sports to take a more active role. "The role of platforms that can become a channel for scalping is important," he said, adding that monitoring of the BTS Gwanghwamun concert found multiple suspected scalping cases on some platforms. He said tighter platform-level controls are needed and that thorough public-private action is required to reduce demand for scalped tickets and help the revised laws take hold quickly.
He also stressed the need to clearly warn the public about the risks of buying scalped tickets. Choi said that even if people purchase scalped tickets for BTS concerts and other events, bookings can be canceled if the transaction is detected, and on-site identity checks can make transfers effectively impossible, potentially leading to fraud losses.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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