South Korea to crack down on baseball ticket scalping

South Korean authorities are launching a joint crackdown on illegal ticket scalping during the professional baseball postseason. Starting on the 14th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korean National Police Agency, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), and the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation will conduct on-site inspections at ticket booths, stadium entrances, and surrounding areas.

The crackdown follows recent legislative changes to the National Sports Promotion Act, which strengthened penalties for habitual or commercial scalping. Offenders may now face up to one year in prison or fines of up to 10 million won, a significant increase from previous minor fines.

Authorities have already seen high volumes of reports, with approximately 90,000 reports of sports-related illegal sales received through October 7. Police have already requested investigations into 121 individuals suspected of fraudulent transactions involving high-priced or bulk sales. The operation aims to protect fair viewing opportunities for fans and prevent organized solicitation near major stadiums in cities such as Seoul, Daegu, Gwangju, and Suwon.