Scalpers who resold Korean Series tickets at 110 times face value nabbed

Police have booked a group of scalpers who used automated macro programs to bulk-purchase tickets to professional baseball games and other events before reselling them at massive markups.

The Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency's cyber investigation unit booked 24 people without detention, including a suspect in their 30s identified only as A, on charges of obstruction of business and violations of the Performance Act and the National Sports Promotion Act.

A and the others are suspected of purchasing 15,500 tickets to K-pop idol concerts and Korean Series baseball games between 2022 and recently, then reselling them on social media for a combined illicit profit of 2.2 billion won ($1.64 million).

Operating out of an office equipped with 22 computers, the group used macro programs and accounts registered under other people's names to secure tickets ahead of the general public. They then recruited buyers on social media and sold the tickets either in person at venues or through individual delivery.

Concert tickets with a face value of 200,000 won were resold for as much as 6.72 million won — 34 times the original price. Korean Series baseball tickets priced at 81,000 won were sold for up to 8.93 million won, or 110 times face value.

Police froze 2.1 billion won in criminal proceeds through pre-indictment seizure and are pursuing procedures to freeze an additional 102 million won.

"Bulk ticket hoarding and scalping are serious crimes that disrupt the order of performance and sports culture," a police official said. "We will maintain a standing enforcement system against scalping."