Korea Declares War on Ticket Scalpers

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Getting tickets for a popular K-pop concert in Korea can sometimes feel harder than getting into the group itself. Now the Korean government is taking aim at the scalpers who make the problem worse.

Beginning August 28, 2026, South Korea introduced much tougher rules against illegal ticket reselling for concerts, performances and sporting events. The rules prohibit both fraudulent ticket buying and repeated commercial resale above the original purchase price—even when automated “macro” software isn’t used.

Preventing scalping in Korea

The biggest deterrent may be the penalty: illegal sellers can face fines of up to 50 times the resale price. Profits can also be confiscated, while people reporting illegal transactions may qualify for financial rewards.

The crackdown comes as tickets for major K-pop concerts and Korean baseball games routinely sell out almost instantly and then appear online at huge markups.

There is one interesting gap: movie tickets and some fan events are currently outside these particular laws.

For Korean fans, the government’s message is simple: tickets should go to fans, not professional resellers.

Vocabulary

  • 암표 (ampyo) — scalped / illegally resold ticket
  • 입장권 (ipjanggwon) — admission ticket
  • 공연 (gongyeon) — performance / concert
  • 재판매 (jaepanmae) — resale
  • 과징금 (gwajinggeum) — administrative penalty / fine
  • 신고 (singo) — report / notification

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Korea’s Gateway Over the Sea: Incheon Bridge

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For many travelers, the first dramatic view of Korea appears before Seoul’s skyline. Incheon Bridge, or 인천대교, stretches across the sea between Yeongjong Island—home to Incheon International Airport—and Songdo International City.
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A Blizzard in a Bowl: Chogye Milmyeon in Yangjae

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On a very hot and humid Seoul afternoon, I tried 초계밀면 (chogye mil-myeon) at Somyeon Sanghoe, a tiny local noodle shop in Yangjae-dong. The dish arrived beneath a small mountain of frozen broth, accompanied by wheat noodles, shredded chicken, crisp vegetables and boiled eggs.

초계밀면 (chogye milmyeon)
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Seoul After Dark: The City That Refuses Bedtime

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Seoul already stays awake late, but the city now wants to turn nighttime into an attraction of its own.

Under Seoul’s new “24-hour city” plan, eight city-run museums and galleries will gradually remain open until 9 p.m., five days a week. A trial will run from September through November before regular operation begins in 2027.

Seoul never sleeps
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Press, Twist, Recover? Korea’s Two-in-One Hangover Bottle

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Korea’s hangover-remedy shelves keep getting more inventive. Dong-A Pharmaceutical’s 모닝케어 프레스온 (Morning Care Press On) looks like an ordinary drink, but several tiny 환—traditional-style pills—are hidden separately inside its cap.

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Korea’s Cheapest Little Luxury: Takeout Coffee

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Even on a rainy day, inexpensive takeout coffee is one of Korea’s easiest pleasures. Small cafés and budget chains are everywhere—often just steps from a subway station or apartment complex.

Chains such as Mega MGC Coffee, Compose Coffee, and Paik’s Coffee specialize in large drinks at small prices. An iced Americano generally costs around ₩1,500–₩2,000, while an iced latte is usually ₩2,700–₩3,500. Ordering is normally done at a counter or touchscreen kiosk, and drinks are prepared within minutes.

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A Bowl That Won’t Wait: Sweet and Nutty Kongguksu

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Today’s lunch came from nearby 순리대로콩비지 (@sunridaero.kongbiji⁠): a refreshing bowl of 콩국수 (kongguksu), or noodles in chilled soybean broth.

The noodles arrived topped with shredded cucumber, sprouts, and a bright slice of tomato, with the thick, pale-green soybean broth packed separately. After pouring it over the noodles, everything becomes creamy, cool, and wonderfully 고소해요—a Korean word describing a rich, nutty flavor.

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