South Korean Regulations Limited in Scope, Challenges Highlighted by Record Label Industry Association Chairman

Courtesy of KQ Entertainment

Yoon Dong-hwan, Chairman of the Record Label Industry Association of Korea, recently addressed the limitations of South Korean laws in enforcing ticket scalping regulations. The chairman's comments were in response to the association's comprehensive report on ticket scalping laws across seven countries: Japan, China, Taiwan, the US, Canada, France, and Belgium.

According to the report, ticket scalping in these countries carries fines ranging from $1,500 to $75,000. In the US, individuals using macro programs to buy or resell tickets face fines of up to $1,500. Japan strictly prohibits ticket resale at a higher price, with penalties including up to a year in prison or a fine of 1 million yen ($6,784) for violators.

Taiwan regulates ticket resale pricing, imposing fines ranging from 10 to 50 times the original ticket price. Offenders who purchase tickets using macros may face up to 3 years in prison or a fine of up to 3 million Taiwan dollars ($96,230). Canada allows ticket resale at a maximum of 50 percent higher than the original price, with potential penalties of up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 50,000 Canadian dollars ($37,288).

In France, fines for ticket scalping can reach up to 15,000 euros ($1,625), while Belgium imposes a maximum fine of 60,000 euros. Yoon Dong-hwan emphasized that several countries revised their ticket scalping laws in 2018, acknowledging the severity of the issue when macro programs first emerged.

However, Yoon pointed out that South Korea's robust consumer protection laws, allowing cancellations without penalties within seven days of purchase and up to the event day with a maximum 30 percent commission, make it an ideal environment for scalping. Despite the enforcement of the Public Performance Act in March 2022, penalizing macro use with up to a year in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won ($7,500), industry insiders argue that the law's impact on curbing ticket scalping may be limited, as it specifically targets macro usage.

Sayart

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