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Tag: K-pop concert

  • Inside Korea’s Ticket Scalping Problem — Even Free Concerts Have Black Market Sales

    Despite the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) labeling ticket scalping as a “social evil” and launching crackdowns, illegal ticket resales continue to thrive online.

    For the upcoming NCT WISH concert, scheduled from October 31 to November 2, VIP seats priced at 198,000 KRW (≈ $150) are reportedly being resold for as much as 1 million KRW, over five times the face value.

    Government data shows that ticket scalping reports surged from 359 cases in 2020 to 4,224 in 2022, a tenfold increase. In 2023 and 2024, 2,161 and 2,224 cases were filed respectively, with 1,020 reports already recorded in 2025 (January–August). Even at free events such as Cho Yong-pil’s concert, scalped tickets were sold for 100,000 KRW, reflecting the scale of the problem.

    However, enforcement remains challenging. Under current law, authorities must prove that tickets were purchased through fraudulent means such as macros and then resold for profit — a standard that ticketing platforms find nearly impossible to verify. Although the MCST announced plans to amend the law last year to penalize resales regardless of macro use, the revision has yet to take effect. Since 2023, only 5.6% of reported cases have been deemed valid for prosecution.

    Shockingly, the Korea Creative Content Agency’s Fair Trade Center currently employs just one staff member dedicated to ticket scalping cases, who also handles other duties. Officials stress the urgent need to increase manpower and establish a real-time monitoring system to curb the ongoing issue.

  • G-DRAGON Ignites 65,000 Fans at Singapore F1 Grand Prix

    G-DRAGON electrified the crowd of roughly 65,000 at the 2025 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, held at the Marina Bay Street Circuit’s Padang Stage.

    On October 3 (local time), G-DRAGON performed as a headliner alongside Elton John, delivering a dynamic 90-minute set that featured hit songs like “POWER,” “HOME SWEET HOME,” and “One of a Kind.” Fans roared his real name, “Kwon Ji-yong,” throughout the night, filling the venue with energy and excitement.

    Currently in the midst of his third world tour, “Ubermensch,” G-DRAGON will continue performing in Osaka (Oct 20–21), Taipei and Hanoi (November), before wrapping up in Seoul (December).

  • TREASURE Confirms 2025-26 Asia Tour with 26 Shows

    YG Entertainment announced on the 29th via its official SNS the poster for the “2025-26 TREASURE TOUR [PULSE ON],” unveiling more details of the tour that will kick off at Seoul’s KSPO DOME on October 10–12.

    According to the announcement, TREASURE will meet local fans next year on March 6 at The Venetian Arena in Macau, March 28 at NTSU Arena in Taipei, April 18 at SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, April 25–26 at Indonesia Arena in Jakarta, May 3 at Singapore Indoor Stadium, May 9 at AsiaWorld-Arena in Hong Kong, and May 30 at Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur.

    The group had already revealed concerts in Seoul and Japan’s Tokyo, Aichi, Fukuoka, Kanagawa, and Osaka. With the addition of Macau and Kuala Lumpur, the tour now spans 14 cities and 26 shows. However, the Bangkok schedule and venue remain unannounced, heightening anticipation among global fans.