Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Police crack down on software-enabled scalping ahead of BTS concert
A woman walks past the letters "BTS" on the stairs in front of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul, Jan. 6. Newsis
By Jung Min-ho
Police have opened an investigation into the alleged use of automated “macro” programs and ticket scams ahead of BTS’s comeback concert at Gwanghwamun Square on March 21.
The city-sponsored performance, which is expected to attract more than 200,000 fans from across Korea and overseas, requires advance reservations to secure seats, resulting in a surge in black market trading and fraud cases.
Speaking to reporters Monday, Park Jeong-bo, chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, said officers are currently investigating three criminal cases tied to ticket sales for the event, after ticketing operator Nol Universe filed a complaint over suspected “macro‑driven” bulk purchases.
Macros are automated scripts that refresh pages and enter login and payment details at high speed, allowing users to snap up tickets far faster than ordinary buyers. Using macros or other tools to hoard tickets for resale at higher prices is illegal in Korea.
Park urged fans not to trust brokers who claim they can secure tickets using macros or offer “proxy ticketing” services. He warned that those who hire such intermediaries risk becoming accomplices and become more vulnerable to identity theft and advance‑fee scams.
“Victims were defrauded of sums ranging from as little as 150,000 won ($100) to 300,000 won through scams disguised as ticket sales,” Park said.
He said police are tracking three main kinds of ticket fraud — macro‑based proxy purchases, high‑priced resale of fraudulently obtained tickets and the sale of fake tickets. So far, they have flagged more than 110 suspicious online posts and asked platforms to delete or block them.
On the day of the concert, authorities plan to deploy about 4,800 officers, including special units, to manage the massive crowd and guard against potential safety incidents.