Korean police open inquiry into baseball postseason ticket resale after 31 referrals
In short
The Korea Sports Promotion Foundation referred 31 people suspected of high-volume illegal resale of professional baseball postseason tickets to police on 20 October, with sales put at about 730 million won. The National Police Agency said it has begun a pre-charge inquiry into suspected illegal resellers on second-hand platforms and elsewhere.
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The Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, the reporting body for scalping in sports, referred 31 people suspected of high-volume illegal sales of professional baseball postseason tickets to police for rapid investigation on 20 October, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said. The foundation analysed reports received from 13 to 19 October and picked sellers whose posts in that period showed a combined price of 10 million won or more. Their illegal sales were put at about 730 million won. [ 1 , 5 ]
The National Police Agency said the same day that it had begun a pre-charge inquiry into people suspected of illegally selling postseason tickets on second-hand platforms and elsewhere, after the foundation's referral. Cyber investigation units of city and provincial police agencies will lead the work. Police said they will also check whether buyers used macro programs or other people's accounts, or committed obstruction of business. They said they will weigh the scale and methods of the offences and the risk of flight or destruction of evidence when considering arrest warrants, and will recover criminal proceeds through confiscation or preservation orders before indictment. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
The foundation will pass more material to police and continue referring major suspects until the postseason ends, Seoul Shinmun and Newsis reported. The ministry said it focused on shortening the time between report analysis and referral, given that ticket trading is concentrated in a short period. Minister Choi Hwi-young said that blocking posts alone is not enough and that the ministry will cooperate actively with the police investigation. [ 1 , 5 ]
Newsis reported that the ministry is also raising the limiting of exposure of suspected posts on second-hand platforms from once a day to twice a day, and will step up enforcement with police, the KBO and clubs around stadiums. Asia Economy reported that police began joint on-site enforcement at postseason venues on 14 October with the ministry and the KBO. [ 5 , 6 ]
Police said the amended National Sports Promotion Act, in force since 28 August, makes it punishable to resell tickets above the purchase price habitually or for business without the seller's consent, even if no macro program was used. Newsis and Asia Economy reported a penalty of up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won; Asia Economy said earlier cases carried a fine of 160,000 won under the Minor Offenses Punishment Act. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Police earlier arrested scalpers who used macros and other people's accounts. Gyeonggi Bukbu police arrested one in June who resold concert and other tickets worth 2.4 billion won over about eight years, and Ulsan police arrested one in August who resold tickets worth 800 million won over about 11 months. [ 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Why it matters
Outlets describe the move as part of tougher enforcement against ticket scalping, after an amended law took effect on 28 August. Police said resale at a markup can now be punished even without macro programs, and the ministry said referrals will continue until the postseason ends.
Key facts
- The Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, the reporting body for sports scalping, referred 31 suspected high-volume illegal sellers of baseball postseason tickets to police on 20 October. [ 1 , 5 ]
- The foundation analysed reports received from 13 to 19 October and picked sellers whose posts showed a combined price of 10 million won or more; the illegal sales were put at about 730 million won. [ 1 , 5 ]
- The National Police Agency said on 20 October that it had begun a pre-charge inquiry (naesa) into people suspected of illegally selling postseason tickets on second-hand platforms and elsewhere. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Cyber investigation units of city and provincial police agencies will lead the inquiry. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 , 8 ]
- Police said they will also check whether buyers used macro programs or other people's accounts, or committed obstruction of business. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 , 8 ]
- Police said they will consider seeking arrest warrants and recover criminal proceeds through confiscation or preservation orders before indictment. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 , 8 ]
- Under the amended National Sports Promotion Act in force since 28 August, reselling tickets above the purchase price habitually or for business without the seller's consent is punishable even without macros. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 , 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The National Police Agency began a pre-charge inquiry into suspected illegal online sales of baseball postseason tickets after a referral from the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- The foundation referred 31 suspected high-volume sellers, with sales of about 730 million won, to police. [ 1 , 5 , 6 ]
- The amended National Sports Promotion Act took effect on 28 August and covers habitual or business resale of tickets above the purchase price without macros. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 , 8 ]
- Police earlier arrested a scalper in June (Gyeonggi Bukbu police; tickets worth 2.4 billion won resold over about eight years) and one in August (Ulsan police; tickets worth 800 million won over about 11 months). [ 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the police inquiry covers exactly the 31 people referred by the foundation. Asia Economy links the 31 referrals to the inquiry, but the police statement as reported by the other outlets gives no number of suspects.
- Whether any suspect will be arrested or charged. Police said only that they would consider seeking arrest warrants; no outlet reports a warrant or charge.