South Korean police arrest 157 scalpers using macro programs

The Korean National Police Agency has apprehended 157 individuals involved in illegal ticket scalping using macro programs. During a special crackdown conducted between March 3 and August 31, authorities identified 126 cases, marking a sixfold increase compared to previous enforcement periods.

The illegal activities primarily targeted concert tickets (61 cases), professional baseball and other sports (50 cases), and train tickets (8 cases). A significant demographic trend was noted, with individuals in their 20s and 30s accounting for 77.1% of those arrested.

Notable arrests include a professional scalper who used macro programs and other people's accounts to resell 2.4 billion won worth of concert tickets over an eight-year period. Another individual was caught reselling over 4,000 KTX and SRT train tickets via brokerage platforms over 19 months.

Police have taken measures to seize or preserve approximately 2 billion won in criminal proceeds. Following the investigation, authorities have notified ticketing agencies, railway operators, and credit card companies regarding security vulnerabilities discovered in their reservation systems to prevent future exploitation.