As the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) approaches, attention has turned to its new ticketing system. In previous years, the ticket sales often caused server crashes, leading to frustration among attendees. This year, a queue system has been introduced to limit simultaneous users.
Ticket sales for the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as some special programs, began on September 17 at 2 p.m. A key change this year prevents one person from monopolizing multiple films and seats at once. After booking a ticket for one film, users must return to the queue to select another.
Reactions to the new system have been mixed. One user on an online community noted, "There’s no need to log in exactly at the start time, which makes it more relaxed." However, another user expressed frustration, stating, "The new structure favors groups who can alternate booking over individuals."
Popular films sold out quickly as soon as tickets became available. The opening film, 'Day and Night Are Each Other,' directed by Kim Jong-kwan, was fully booked immediately. Hirokazu Kore-eda's latest live-action film, 'Look Back,' also sold out early, especially after the confirmation of the director and lead actors' attendance. Additionally, the talk program 'Actors House,' featuring stars like Kim Go-eun, Shin Min-a, Lee Min-ho, and Ju Ji-hoon, saw all sessions sell out right after the ticket release.
Some posts on social media indicated that tickets for popular films were being resold at inflated prices. A festival official stated they are currently investigating the scalping issue.
Meanwhile, ticket sales for general screenings and master classes are set to begin on September 21 at 2 p.m. Online communities are already buzzing with predictions that "the real competition will be on the 21st."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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